Ben McAdams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben McAdams
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 4th district
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Mia Love
Succeeded by	Burgess Owens
Mayor of Salt Lake County
In office January 7, 2013 – January 2, 2019
Deputy	Nichole Dunn
Preceded by	Peter Corroon
Succeeded by	Jenny Wilson
Member of the Utah State Senate from the 2nd district
In office December 19, 2009 – November 13, 2012
Preceded by	Scott McCoy
Succeeded by	Jim Dabakis
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Michael McAdams (1974-12-05) December 5, 1974 (age 50) West Bountiful, Utah, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Julie McAdams
Children	4
Education	University of Utah (BA) Columbia University (JD)

Benjamin Michael McAdams (born December 5, 1974) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as a U.S. representative for Utah's 4th congressional district from 2019 to 2021. During his time in Congress, he was the only member of the Democratic Party from Utah.

Before serving in Congress, McAdams was the mayor of Salt Lake County from 2013 to 2019. He also served as a Utah state senator from 2009 to 2012.

In 2018, McAdams won a close election to become a U.S. representative, defeating the previous representative, Mia Love. He ran for reelection in 2020 but lost to Burgess Owens. McAdams is the most recent Democrat to have represented Utah in the U.S. Congress.

Early Life and Education

Ben McAdams was born in West Bountiful, Utah. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah. He later received a law degree from Columbia Law School in New York City.

Political Career

Utah State Senator

McAdams began his political career in the Utah State Senate. He was elected in a special election in 2009 to represent the 2nd district, which includes parts of Salt Lake City.

In 2011, he proposed a bill to ban discrimination in housing and jobs based on a person's identity. The bill did not pass at the state level, but a similar rule was already in place in Salt Lake City.

During his time as a state senator, different groups gave him scores based on his votes. He received high scores from groups that support education and low taxes. He was seen as a more moderate, or middle-of-the-road, Democrat.

Mayor of Salt Lake County

McAdams (left) with U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez in Salt Lake City in 2015.

In 2012, McAdams was elected mayor of Salt Lake County, defeating his opponent with 54% of the vote. He was reelected in 2016 with 59% of the vote.

As mayor, he worked on several important issues. One major challenge was homelessness. To better understand the problem, McAdams spent two nights on the streets of Salt Lake City, pretending to be homeless. He used this experience to help decide where to build a new homeless resource center.

McAdams also supported a special tax called the Zoos, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) tax. This small tax on purchases helps fund places like the Hogle Zoo and many local parks and arts groups. Voters approved the tax with strong support.

He also worked to keep the county's finances healthy. During his time as mayor, Salt Lake County kept a top AAA bond rating, which is like getting a perfect score for managing money.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 2017, McAdams announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, where laws for the whole country are made.

Elections

The 2018 election for Utah's 4th congressional district was very close. After all the votes were counted, McAdams won by just 694 votes. His victory made him the first Democrat to represent Utah in Congress since 2012.

In 2020, McAdams ran for a second term. He faced Republican challenger Burgess Owens. This election was also very close, but Owens won by about 3,000 votes.

Time in Congress

During his two years in Congress, McAdams was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of Democrats who focus on being fiscally responsible (careful with government spending).

He introduced a bill to create a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This would require the government to not spend more money than it takes in, except during emergencies like a war or a major economic downturn.

McAdams also worked on a bill to help victims of Ponzi schemes, a type of investment fraud. His bill, which passed the House, aimed to make it easier for people to get their money back. He also supported an amendment to stop the government from doing explosive nuclear weapons testing.

Committee Work

In Congress, members work in small groups called committees to focus on specific topics. McAdams served on:

• Committee on Financial Services, which deals with banks, housing, and the economy.
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which oversees science agencies and research.

What are Ben McAdams's Political Views?

McAdams calls himself a moderate Democrat. This means he often looks for common ground and is willing to work with Republicans to solve problems.

Economic Issues

McAdams believes in reducing the national debt. He opposed a major tax cut bill in 2017 because he was concerned it would add too much to the debt. He also supports raising the minimum wage but thinks it should be based on the cost of living in different parts of the country.

He supported the USMCA, a trade deal between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, to help American businesses and workers.

Environment

McAdams believes climate change is a real threat. He supported a bill to keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement, an international agreement to fight climate change. He also worked to get more federal money for electric buses in Utah to help improve air quality.

However, he did not support the Green New Deal, a large government plan to address climate change. He said he prefers solutions where the government and private companies work together.

Gun Policy

McAdams supports the Second Amendment, which gives people the right to own guns. He also believes in what he calls "responsible gun ownership."

In 2019, he voted for a bill to require background checks for all gun purchases. He said this would help keep guns away from people who shouldn't have them.

Impeachment of Donald Trump

In 2019, the House of Representatives began an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. After reviewing the evidence, McAdams voted in favor of both articles of impeachment. He said the evidence showed that the president had acted improperly. He called the vote a choice between "two really bad options."

Personal Life

McAdams is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the 1990s, he served a two-year mission for his church in Brazil. He and his wife, Julie, have four children.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, McAdams tested positive for the virus. He was hospitalized for a week due to breathing problems but later recovered.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Ben McAdams para niños

• Politics of Utah
• List of United States representatives from Utah
• United States House of Representatives