On Tuesday, former Democratic Party candidate Doug Owens announced that he has officially entered the 2016 race for Congress in Utah’s fourth district. Owens plans to challenge incumbent Mia Love for the House seat, as he did in 2014. His candidacy has some optimistic that the Democratic Party can regain a House seat in Utah.
Utah Democratic Party Chair Peter Corroon said that increased voter turnout will ultimately help Owens’ candidacy.
“One of the things that’s different between a presidential year and a non-presidential year, Democrats and Independents actually get out and vote during those presidential years, where Republicans are pretty consistent in their voting records,” Corroon said. “If Doug Owens gets the same percentage of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents as he did last election then he would actually win this race by about two or three points. We really haven’t seen anything from Mia Love in Congress. Incumbency, while it does make a difference, I don’t think makes as much of a difference in this race as it might in other races.”
Recent filings with the Federal Election Commission show that Love has already raised over $600,000 for 2016. Corroon said that he does not expect Owens to outspend his opponent.
“Doug Owens will be outspent by Mia Love. Mia Love seems to be the special interest favorite. I don’t think Utahns like that; I think Utahns want somebody who’s supported by local Utah voters, not national party interests and special interests,” he said. “That seems to be what Mia Love is doing right now, collecting as much money from banks and other special interests that really want to buy her attention and get her to vote the way they want her to vote.”
Love defeated Owens by fewer than 5,000 votes in 2014.
