Can ‘community conservatism’ win Utah’s new blue district? A Gen Z GOP nominee is going to find out
The 27-year-old Republican nominee for Utah’s 1st Congressional District announced on Tuesday a “Hard Questions” tour to introduce voters to his unorthodox pitch of “community conservatism” with Gen Z characteristics.
Despite an overwhelming fundraising disadvantage, Riley Owen, the Navy Intelligence officer on the GOP ticket, hopes his populist appeal paired with a peacemaker’s attitude will make a lasting impact on Beehive State politics.
To rebuild trust in government, Owen supports term limits and age caps for Congress, bans on stock trading for lawmakers and staffers, and restrictions on corporate donations.
To rebuild trust in each other, he proposes social media bans for youth under 16, tax breaks for employer-provided maternity leave and incentives to save the Great Salt Lake.
“A lot of people look at issues like the environment or taking care of moms with paid maternity leave or making things more affordable and they think conservatives don’t talk about that,” Owen told the De…