Derek Kitchen was one of the most compelling potential candidates in Utah’s new congressional district. Now he is the first candidate to officially step away from the race.
In this episode, we sit down with Derek for a candid conversation about why he made the decision to step away, what he saw happening inside the race, and what most people get wrong about how these decisions are actually made.
We talk about his path from suing the state of Utah over marriage equality to serving in the State Senate and the Biden administration, and what those experiences taught him about power, relationships, and getting things done in a state like Utah.
We also get into the bigger questions shaping this race: what it actually means to be a “pragmatic progressive,” how crowded primaries change the math, and why stepping aside can sometimes be the most strategic move.
Listen on your favorite podcast app or you can see the full interview on YouTube:
