Rep. Moore eager to shift gears after primary win: ‘I want to get back to work’
SOUTH JORDAN — It wasn’t just the campaigning, glad handing and meet-and-greets of recent weeks in his bid for a second term that pushed U.S. Rep. Blake Moore over the finish line.
“I don’t think it was the efforts from the last six weeks,” he said.
Rather, Moore — fresh off his victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for the the 1st District U.S. House seat — says it stemmed from his efforts over the last 18 months as a lawmaker and representative who crafted legislation, traveled the district, met with constituents.
He isn’t a politician who just spouts talking points, Moore said, “but someone who’s actively doing something.” He noted his recent assignment to the House Budget Committee, his third committee posting, and indicated he’s anxious to get off the campaign trail in the wake of Tuesday’s results, at least until general election stumping picks up.
“I want to get back to work,” he said.
Moore, first elected in 2020, easily fended off challenges from two other GOPers in the primary balloting that ended Tuesday, garnering 51,328 votes, 58.8% of the total, according to preliminary, unofficial totals. Next came Andrew Badger with 23,451 votes, 26.9%, and Tina Cannon, 12,535 votes, 14.4%
Next, Moore will face Rick Jones, a West Haven Democrat, in the general election in the fall. The 1st District leans heavily Republican and Jones hasn’t yet reported any fundraising in the campaign, boding for an uphill battle for the Democrat.
Regardless, Moore said he’ll stick to his message when campaigning leading to Nov. 8 starts picking up. He focused on his opposition to the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, but also touted the need to reach across the partisan divide in Washington, D.C., to pass legislation.
“You’re going to get consistency out of me,” he said late Tuesday night from a campaign event in South Jordan with other Utah GOPers, including Sen. Mike Lee, the host.
Tackling the U.S. debt and trimming the annual U.S. spending deficit are big focuses for Moore and he spoke eagerly about his new role on the House Budget Committee as rep for House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. He’ll be the second-highest ranking GOPer on the body, which helps craft an annual budget resolution outlining government spending allocations and priorities.
He also addressed the new committee assignment in a statement. He already serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.
“It is imperative that we rein in our federal spending and get our fiscal house back in order so we can chart a course forward that will ensure prosperity for the next generation,” Moore said. Earlier on, he created a coalition of Northern Utah experts to advise him and craft ways to address the spending issue.
Rep. Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican and ranking member of the House Budget Committee, lauded Moore and noted the import of the committee’s work.
“Blake has already established himself as a vocal critic of wasteful Washington spending in Utah and we look forward to having him join us on the Budget Committee in our fight to return fiscal sanity to Washington,” Smith said in a statement. American families, he said, “are facing record inflation driven by massive new government spending.”
As for the campaign, Moore said it took a toll, especially as the father of four young boys. It was also hard on his wife, Jane. “It wears on you. My wife has been through so much,” he said.
Still, the results Tuesday were gratifying. “I’m just really excited. My boys are really excited,” he said.