Millcreek voters will see their new congressional candidates face off for the first time when Republican Mike Kennedy and Democrat Jonny Larsen debate Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. at Snow College.

The event, hosted by the Utah Debate Commission, is the third of four commission-organized congressional debates this cycle. The general election is Nov. 3.

Millcreek landed in the new 4th District after a court-ordered redistricting finalized in November 2025. Third District Court Judge Dianna Gibson rejected the Legislature's proposed map and adopted one submitted by the League of Women Voters Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. The redrawn district now spans Tooele, Millard, Sanpete, Juab and Sevier counties along with parts of Salt Lake and Utah counties.

The seat is open.

Former Rep. Burgess Owens announced in March 2026 he would not seek reelection, citing the new map.

Kennedy represents Utah's 3rd District in Congress. A former family doctor and lawyer, he has focused his campaign on healthcare, affordability, border security, energy production and wildfire prevention. President Donald Trump endorsed Kennedy in a June 18 social media post, calling him "a Proven Leader," according to the Deseret News.

At a Sept. 29 Q&A hosted by the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Sutherland Institute, Kennedy told a student who asked about the surgeon general position: "I'm warning you right now, that position shouldn't be there. We don't need a chief doctor."

Larsen, a Marine Corps veteran who enlisted at 17 and served as an infantry rifleman from 2000 to 2004, describes himself as a Blue Dog Democrat. He is also a cancer survivor treated by the VA. His campaign centers on housing costs, public lands, data centers and healthcare.

Two other candidates are on the ballot: Taylor Wright, Libertarian, and Steven Burt, unaffiliated.

A Lighthouse Research poll commissioned by the Utah Debate Commission and released in September showed Kennedy at 41.7% and Larsen at 32.9%, with 25.4% choosing another candidate or undecided. All four major nonpartisan race-rating outlets rate the district as solid or safe Republican, according to Ballotpedia.

Campaign fundraising reflects that gap. As of June 30, Kennedy had raised $971,393 with $391,557 cash on hand. Larsen had raised $53,579 with $1,129 on hand, per FEC data reported by Ballotpedia.

Viewers can check the Utah Debate Commission's website for streaming details.