Utah Congressional District 2 Republican Primary: Karianne Lisonbee and Blake Moore
The 2026 Primary Election for Utah’s new northern district.
About this position
Congressional District 2 (“CD2”) is one of Utah’s four seats in U.S. House of Representatives. CD2 covers most of northern Utah from east to west, including Ogden, Logan, and Brigham City.
Utah has four House representatives who work full-time in Washington, D.C., as well as in local offices. Because House members vote on issues like healthcare, taxes, public lands, infrastructure, immigration, and education, these races can have a significant impact on both Utah and national policy.
About the Candidates
*Candidates top priorities come from their official websites. This is just a starting point; please research more, including reaching out to candidates to learn more about their priorities and experience.
Karianne Lisonbee
About: Karianne Lisonbee is a political consultant and self-described homemaker. She’s lived in Davis County for decades and currently resides in Syracuse, Utah. Ms. Lisonbee has been in the Utah House of Representatives since 2017, and has reported she will not seek another term when her current term is up in 2027.
Ms. Lisonbee has held leadership positions like House Majority Whip and Judiciary Committee Chair, and has served on various committees. Prior to joining the Legislature, she served on the Syracuse City Council.
Top Priorities: secure the border, taxes and fiscal responsibility, second amendment, pro-life, education and parental rights, MAHA, election integrity
Insights: Ms. Lisonbee is viewed as one of the more far-right members of the Utah Legislature. She’s been a leading voice on social conservative issues (see her own website). We have concerns about her legislation related to education policy, judicial oversight, culture-war issues, and strict abortion restrictions that have lead to harmful impact on mothers. See her voting record.
In our opinion, many of Ms. Lisonbee’s positions may feel too ideological and ultraconservative for moderate or independent Utah voters.
Blake Moore
About: Native of Ogden, Utah. Now lives in SLC, Utah, and has for 10+ years. Mr. Moore has a Master’s in Public Policy degree. Before Congress, he worked in business consulting, public policy, and foreign service-related work.
Mr. Moore has represented northern Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021 and currently serves in House Republican leadership as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. He also serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, House Budget Committee, and has served on other committees during his time in Congress.
Top priorities: lowering costs and fiscal discipline, border security and immigration reform, strengthening Hill Air Force base and national security, tax relief and economic growth, pro family
Insights: Moore is generally viewed as part of the more pragmatic wing of Utah Republican politics. He has worked on bipartisan legislation, constituent services, environmental work related to the Great Salt Lake, and shown a willingness to engage on economic and governance issues. He holds leadership positions which allow him to have an outsized say in Congress.
Our Recommendation:
We recommend Blake Moore as the candidate of choice for principled Republicans in Congressional District 2 in this primary election.
We’ll be upfront: we have been disappointed by Mr. Moore’s silence on some major national issues since the current administration took office in 2025, which some of us view as a lack of leadership. However, we recognize that he also has a history of bipartisan legislative work, experience, and pragmatic approach to governing, including sponsoring 94 bills during his time in Congress. We hope he will show greater independence and public leadership moving forward.
During Ms. Lisonbee’s time in the Utah statehouse, we feel she has consistently taken ideological, divisive approaches to governance that concern us. As such, we’re concerned that she lacks the coalition-building ability needed to effectively represent Utah in Congress.
What’s next?
The winner of the Republican primary for CD2 will face several competitors this November (Since there is only candidate per party, no primaries for these parties):
Democratic candidate Peter Crosby
Libertarian Daniel Cottam (no website, see his Facebook)
Independent American Party Carlton Bowen in the general election for Congressional District 2
Learn more about those candidates.