Ben McAdams, Riley Owen focus on high prices, AI policy in first
Rising costs hit working families hardest while Washington debates spending priorities.
Utah’s first debate between Ben McAdams and Riley Owen didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it did give voters a clean look at two very different roadmaps. McAdams came out swinging on "high prices," which is smart politics. Everyone feels the pinch at the grocery store.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
Owen says McAdams wants big-government policies, but Democrat says he wants to protect families. (Erin Hooley | Pool) Candidates for Utah’s 1st Congressional District Republican Riley Owen, left, and Democrat Ben McAdams participate in a debate at Salt Lake Community College, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Salt Lake City.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
Utah’s first debate between Ben McAdams and Riley Owen didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but it did give voters a clean look at two very different roadmaps. McAdams came out swinging on "high prices," which is smart politics. Everyone feels the pinch at the grocery store. But his answer, if you listened closely, was more of the same: government programs and a heavy hand on the levers. We’ve seen this movie. The sequel is never as good as the trailer.
Owen, meanwhile, spent his time talking about the future. He kept the focus on harnessing AI for real economic growth and leaned into nuclear power as the reliable, clean baseload energy we actually need. That's a practical, America-first vision. It doesn't just promise relief at the register; it addresses the supply-side bottlenecks that cause the inflation in the first place. McAdams seems to think the solution to high prices is more federal intervention. Owen argues that we need to unleash domestic production and innovation to outgrow the problem. That’s the difference between a band-aid and a cure.
The contrast on nuclear power was especially telling. McAdams tip-toed around the issue with the usual caution of a career politician, worried about the political fallout rather than the energy payoff. Owen got it. He understands that if we are serious about powering data centers for this new AI age and keeping our grid stable, we cannot afford to be squeamish about fission. We need to build, and we need to build now. There is no green energy future without a serious nuclear commitment.
In the end, this debate framed the choice for Utah voters perfectly. Do you want the familiar, comfortable stagnation of the Democratic playbook, or do you want a Republican who is actually talking about the next generation of American industry? We know where we stand. The party of "no" keeps telling us what we can’t have. We’d rather back the guy telling us how to get there.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.