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SALT LAKE CITY — Blake Moore was on his way to victory in the race for the GOP nomination in the 1st District U.S. House.

According to partial returns tallied Tuesday evening, still unofficial, he had garnered 45,914 votes — 60.3% of the total — easily outpacing two challengers. Andrew Badger had garnered 19,236 votes, 25.3% of the total, while Tina Cannon had 10,994 votes, 14.4%.

Associated Press called the race for Moore at 8:44 p.m.

Moore is seeking a second term and, presuming no change in the order of the three GOPers, he’d face Rick Jones, a West Haven Democrat, in the November general elections. The 1st District leans heavily Republican.

The three GOPers offered distinctive perspectives during campaigning.

Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

Moore, from Salt Lake City, campaigned on his opposition to the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, balanced by calls to move beyond partisan bickering and create legislation.

Badger, who lives in Ogden, had touted himself as a feisty, anti-GOP establishment candidate, focusing on issues like his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and election integrity. He had also railed against Moore and his support for a GOP measure, which ultimately fizzled, to censure Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Cannon, a former Morgan County Council member, sounded support for helping small business operators and stressed the need to fight inflation and high energy prices. She unsuccessfully vied for the 1st District post in 2020, when Moore first won election, after Rob Bishop, who held the seat for nine terms, decided not to run again.

Bishop had endorsed Cannon.

The 1st District covers Northern Utah, stretching south into Salt Lake County and covering part of Davis County.

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