Utah’s 2nd Congressional District candidates debate data centers, tariffs and housing at USU

Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, and Democratic challenger Peter Crosby debated data centers, tariffs, water and housing Tuesday night, Oct. 13, at Utah State University, three weeks before Election Day.

The Utah Debate Commission hosted the event at the Chase Fine Arts Center for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District, a newly drawn district covering much of northern Utah. Moderator Heidi Hatch asked most of the questions, and two came from students.

Moore, who currently represents much of northern Utah, serves in House Republican leadership and won a contested primary in June. Crosby, the Democratic nominee, works in the private sector as a project manager and consultant and is an adjunct professor of emergent and disruptive technology at USU.

In opening statements, Crosby said, “USU is my home,” while Moore said he focuses on “maintaining a productive lane.”

Data centers drew the first question, following a proposal in Box Elder County this spring. Moore said local officials learned “they have to be able to engage the public, and they have to bring the public along.”

Crosby said he urged Box Elder County commissioners to vote “not yet” so they could gather more information and “keep local control over this kind of decision.” He said a public referendum on projects with decades of impact would not be inappropriate.

On the Great Salt Lake, Moore said a $1 billion figure in the White House budget proposal does not guarantee the full amount will arrive, adding he is working with Utah’s congressional delegation on funding in the “tens of millions.” Crosby backed long-term water leases to send more flow to the lake, saying, “The lake needs water. It doesn’t need money. It needs water.”   

Crosby said recent federal legislation stripping residential solar subsidies will cost northern Utah $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion over four years, and said Moore co-authored the bill. Moore said he went to bat for solar companies and pointed to a permitting reform bill he expects the Senate to finalize after the election.

On tariffs, Crosby said “tariffs are harming everybody” and said Moore voted six times to maintain them. Moore called tariffs one of the toughest issues of the past 18 months, saying some manufacturers depend on them to compete, and his office has helped companies, including Procter & Gamble, get tariffs removed on goods they cannot source in the United States. Crosby replied that small business owners do not get the same attention.

On rising prices, Moore said he hopes permitting reform will increase domestic energy supply and ease fuel costs. “We don’t need hope. We need votes,” Crosby said, adding that Congress could vote to end the war with Iran and broad tariffs if one or two Republicans crossed the aisle. Moore said he has encouraged a ceasefire in Iran.  

A student asked about youth turnout, citing 15.8% among eligible voters ages 18 to 24 in 2022, compared with 46.8% overall in Utah. Crosby pitched funding for community and nonprofit housing builds and closing corporate tax loopholes. Moore pointed to a cap in last year’s legislation, which he said has led universities to lower tuition.  

On housing, Crosby proposed having Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac count rental history toward credit. “If you’ve paid your rent for five years, I’m pretty sure you can pay a mortgage,” he said. Moore called housing a supply problem and promoted a proposal called the Share Act, which would let impact investors share down payment costs.  

Both candidates praised USU’s Center for Anticipatory Intelligence, where Crosby teaches. Crosby said it began with Moore’s help securing initial funding, and Moore said it has been “an honor to be able to support them.”  

In closing, Crosby said he hopes he earned voters’ trust and votes. Moore said, “I am literally in this for my four boys,” and pointed to the Invest America Act, which he said lets children begin investing at birth.  

In post-debate interviews, Crosby said his campaign has more than 400 volunteers and does not run on corporate contributions.  

“Blake Moore is fine with the path that we’re on. I’m not,” Crosby said. Moore said he is trying to communicate there are “substantive things being done.”  

Election Day is Nov. 3, and ballots begin arriving in mailboxes this week, Hatch said.