Derek Kitchen drops from congressional race
In a statement released on his social media platforms, Derek Kitchen has announced he will not file to run for Congress in the newly formed Democrat-leaning district.
“Over the past few months, I’ve been seriously exploring a run for Congress and speaking with people across Utah about the future of our state. We had incredible conversations with voters and built a strong team of supporters and volunteers along the way,” Kitchen began. “After careful reflection, I’ve decided not to file during this week’s congressional candidate filing period.”
He continued that he is grateful for those who encouraged him to run.
“While this won’t be my race, I care deeply about Utah’s future and look forward to continuing the work ahead,” he said. “Utah has always been built by people who care deeply about their communities, and I’m grateful to be part of that work.”
The former state senator, Salt Lake City councilmember, and LGBTQ+ civil rights figure launched his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in November after declaring that Utah’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional map “finally has a Democratic district, and it deserves a real progressive champion who has what it takes to fight back against Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican agenda.”
Former representative Ben McAdams stated, “I’ve worked alongside Derek for more than a decade as we’ve both served in different roles. Even as opponents in this race, he elevated the dialogue and focused on the issues that matter to Utahns. He’s a dedicated public servant who cares deeply about our state. He may be changing lanes, but I know he’ll keep working to move Utah and our country forward. I look forward to continuing the work alongside him.”
