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Blake Moore
Blake Moore
from Wikipedia

Blake David Moore[1] (born June 22, 1980)[2] is an American politician and former diplomat from the state of Utah. He is the U.S. representative for Utah's 1st congressional district, serving since January 2021. Since November 8, 2023, he has been the vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

Key Information

Early life and education

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Moore was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. He attended Ogden High School, graduating in 1998.[3][4] During high school, he was a quarterback for the football team.[5] In 1997, he won the Wendy's High School Heisman.[6] He is an Eagle Scout.[7]

After graduating from high school, Moore enrolled at Utah State University on a football scholarship.[8] His freshman year roommate was American-born Azerbaijani NBA player Spencer Nelson. During his freshman year, Moore's football scholarship was rescinded by a newly-installed football coach after he left to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seoul, South Korea.[9]

After returning from his mission, Moore transferred to the University of Utah, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in behavioral science and business. He earned a master's in public policy and administration from Northwestern University.[10][11]

Career

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Moore briefly served as a United States Foreign Service officer in the United States Department of State, and worked as a business consultant for the Cicero Group, a management consulting firm based in Salt Lake City.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2020

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In February 2020, Moore declared his candidacy for Utah's 1st congressional district in the 2020 elections.[12] In a field of 12 primary candidates, Moore advanced out of the Republican nominating convention in second place, together with Weber County Commissioner Kerry Gibson. Two other candidates, Davis County commissioner Bob Stevenson and Kaysville mayor Katie Witt, also secured their spot in the primary by gathering signatures. During the party nominating process, Moore was criticized for not living within the congressional district.[13] At the time, he resided on the east bench of Salt Lake City, 15 miles outside the district. Congressional candidates are not required to live inside the district they represent, only in the same state. Moore then won the four-way June 30 Republican primary with just over 30% of the vote.[14]

In the general election, Moore defeated Democratic nominee Darren Parry with 69.5% of the vote to Parry's 30.4%.[15] He took office on January 3, 2021, marking the first time an incumbent had not run in 18 years and maintaining Republican control of the district since 1980.[16][17]

2022

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Moore faced two primary challengers, Tina Cannon and Andrew Badger. On May 15, State Senate President Stuart Adams endorsed Moore in an editorial in the Deseret News.[18]

Tenure

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Moore voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump.[19]

On May 19, 2021, Moore voted for bipartisan legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol.[20] The bill to establish this commission was blocked in the Senate. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy had earlier advocated for congressional action to form such a commission on January 13, stating that "[he thought] a fact-finding commission ... would be prudent."[21] Moore voted against the Democratic-led United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.[22]

Moore was among the few House Republicans who voted to keep Liz Cheney as conference chair both times a vote was held.[23] In an interview with the Deseret News editorial board, Moore stated he felt no pressure to vote one way or another from Republican leadership, and said it was important for the Republican leadership team to hold "broad appeal."

In July 2021, Business Insider revealed that Moore had failed to disclose on time more than 70 stock and stock-option trades made between mid-January and mid-May 2021, in violation of the STOCK Act.[24] The total value of the stocks in question is unknown, but was between $70,000 and $1.1 million. Moore acknowledged paying a "late filing fee" to the House Committee on Ethics in July 2021; the value of that fee generally starts at $200.[25] In September 2021, Business Insider reported that Moore failed to disclose an additional three stock-option trades made in August 2021 by a federally mandated deadline.[26]

In November 2021, Moore voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[27]

In the wake of the Taliban's conquering of Afghanistan, Moore introduced the Afghanistan Accountability Act to investigate what the Biden administration knew before deciding to leave Afghanistan.[28]

As of November 2021, Moore voted with Joe Biden's preferred positions 16% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight's tracker.[29]

In 2021, Moore co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, the Republican alternative to the Equality Act.[30] The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and protect the free exercise of religion.

On July 19, 2022, Moore was one of 47 Republican representatives to vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifed the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[31]

On November 8, 2023, Moore defeated six other candidates to become the GOP conference vice chair, the position that was vacated by the ascension of Mike Johnson to the role of Speaker of the House.[32][33]

In February 2024, Moore voted against the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas as part of a procedural move in order to allow the vote to brought again under a motion to reconsider.[34] He would vote in favor of it the second time around.

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Personal life

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Moore and his wife, Jane Boyer, have four sons.[42][43] Moore has said that despite being elected to one of the most powerful political bodies in the world, the title he most prizes is "Little League coach".[44]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Blake David Moore (born June 22, 1980) is an American politician and former serving as the U.S. representative for since 2021. A Republican, he represents northern and eastern , including Ogden where he was born and raised. Prior to Congress, Moore worked as a with the U.S. Department of State and as an engagement manager at Cicero Group, a consulting firm focused on strategy and market research. Moore attended on a football scholarship before earning a B.A. from the and an M.P.P.A. from in 2018. As a high school senior, he received the Wendy's High School Heisman award for excellence in athletics, academics, and citizenship, and achieved the rank of . Elected in 2020 after a competitive Republican primary, Moore defeated Democratic nominee Claudia Madden in the general election and has since won re-election in 2022 and 2024. In the House, he serves on the —the first Republican to do so—and was elected Vice Chair of the in 2023, a position he retained for the 119th Congress following the 2024 elections. Among his legislative achievements, Moore has authored bills enacted into law, including the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act to address ecological challenges in Utah's Great Salt Lake region, the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act to improve federal data on cyber threats, and measures honoring military valor such as the National Medal of Honor Recognition Day Act. He was named a 2022 Fiscal Hero by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget for efforts to curb federal spending. Moore has also been involved in conference negotiations on defense and other appropriations bills. However, early in his tenure, he drew scrutiny for violating the STOCK Act by failing to disclose dozens of stock transactions—valued between $70,000 and $1.1 million—within the required 45-day period, leading to 76 reported violations, a "danger" rating in ethics analyses, and a fine from the House Ethics Committee.

Early life and education

Upbringing and family influences

Blake Moore was born on June 22, 1980, in Ogden, , as the youngest of five children. Growing up in Ogden, he absorbed core values from his parents, including responsibility and hard work from his father and optimism and service from his mother, which fostered a disciplined approach to personal achievement. These family dynamics, set against northern Utah's community-focused milieu influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized and mutual support, traits that aligned with and reinforced Moore's emerging conservative principles of individual accountability and familial obligation. Early indicators of this outlook appeared in his youth through leadership in , where as he guided Ogden High School to its first playoff victory since 1983 and received the 1997 Wendy's High School Heisman Trophy for outstanding performance in athletics, scholarship, and citizenship.

Academic background

Moore attended Utah State University on an athletic scholarship, where he played under coach Dave Arslanian following his high school graduation in 1998. After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in , , he transferred and earned a from the . Moore later pursued graduate studies at Northwestern University, obtaining a master's degree in public policy and administration, which equipped him with analytical skills applicable to international diplomacy and policy analysis in his subsequent career.

Professional career

Business and finance positions

Prior to entering politics, Blake Moore served as a Principal at Cicero Group, a management consulting firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked for nearly a decade. In this role, he led client projects focused on strategy development, marketing research, and social impact initiatives, assisting organizations in data analysis, operational planning, and navigating complex change processes. His work supported business growth across sectors including financial services, healthcare, education, transportation, and supply chain management, demonstrating expertise in risk assessment and strategic decision-making tailored to Utah's entrepreneurial environment. Moore's consulting engagements at Cicero Group involved serving clients throughout and nationwide, emphasizing evidence-based strategies to enhance efficiency and market positioning. For instance, he guided firms in and other industries through transformation efforts, leveraging analytical tools to inform investment-like decisions on and expansion. This experience honed his fiscal acumen, as evidenced by his contributions to projects that addressed challenges, such as cost optimization and revenue enhancement in competitive markets. Earlier in his career, Moore engaged in international business development consulting, focusing on opportunities in healthcare and sectors. This work provided hands-on insight into global market dynamics and operations, fostering skills in deal evaluation and economic expansion strategies applicable to Utah's growing tech and . Through these positions, Moore contributed to Utah's business ecosystem by applying rigorous analytical frameworks to real-world commercial challenges, though specific quantifiable outcomes like investment returns or firm valuations from his direct involvement are not publicly detailed in available records.

Public service roles

Prior to his election to Congress, Blake Moore served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, working within the intelligence and defense community. Following training in Washington, D.C., he was assigned to postings in Asia, where he contributed to U.S. foreign policy implementation, particularly regarding China, and analyzed international threats to American interests. These roles involved direct engagement with global diplomatic challenges, emphasizing the need for robust U.S. partnerships abroad and readiness against adversarial actions. Moore's diplomatic service honed skills in , , and cross-cultural coordination, which proved transferable to subsequent endeavors involving public-private collaboration and fiscal management. He later applied this expertise in advisory capacities, such as on the Sports Commission board, advocating for international events like the Olympics' return to through and . This progression underscored his emphasis on leveraging government experience for effective oversight and partnership-building outside elected office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

The 2020 election for was an open seat contest following the retirement of long-serving Republican incumbent . Blake Moore, a Republican and former to U.S. Representative , secured the Republican nomination after winning the on June 30, 2020. In the general election held on November 3, 2020, Moore defeated Democratic nominee Darren Parry, a and former tribal council member of the Tribe, with 237,988 votes (69.5%) to Parry's 104,194 votes (30.4%).

2022

Moore sought reelection in 2022 amid a Republican primary challenge from conservatives critical of his support for certain bipartisan measures. He won the Republican primary on June 28, 2022, against opponents Andrew Badger and Tina Cannon, advancing to the general election. On November 8, 2022, Moore defeated Democratic nominee Rick Jones, a retired social worker, capturing 178,434 votes (67.0%) compared to Jones's 87,986 votes (33.0%).

2024

In the 2024 cycle, Moore faced no significant primary opposition and advanced directly to the general election. On November 5, 2024, he defeated Democratic nominee Bill Campbell, a software engineer, and Libertarian Daniel R. Cottam, receiving 63.13% of the vote to Campbell's 32.06% and Cottam's 4.81%.

2020

Moore emerged as the Republican nominee in primary on June 30, , after incumbent announced his retirement, opening the seat to challengers. He received 39,260 votes (30.9%), edging out Bob Stevenson with 36,288 votes (28.6%), Kerry Gibson with 29,991 votes (23.6%), and Katie Witt with 21,317 votes (16.8%), in a field of 126,856 total votes cast. The contest highlighted divisions among candidates on , with Moore positioning himself as a business-oriented outsider focused on reducing and addressing local economic concerns in northern Utah's growing suburbs and rural areas. In the November 3, , general election, Moore defeated Democrat Darren Parry in the safely Republican district, capturing 237,988 votes (69.5%) to Parry's 104,194 votes (30.4%), a margin of 133,794 votes amid 342,351 total ballots. His campaign raised $821,447, dwarfing Parry's $41,218, enabling extensive outreach in the district spanning Ogden and parts of the . Moore pledged to combat federal debt accumulation and uphold Trump administration priorities on , , and , aligning with GOP endorsements from national conservative organizations like the NRA.

2022

In the Republican primary for on June 28, 2022, Blake Moore faced challenges from Andrew Badger and Tina Cannon, both positioning as more conservative alternatives. Moore won with 57.6% of the vote (58,408 votes), compared to Badger's 28.0% (28,437 votes) and Cannon's 14.4% (14,577 votes), demonstrating incumbency advantages amid intra-party tests of loyalty to former President Trump. Moore proceeded to the general election on November 8, , against Democratic nominee Rick Jones, securing reelection with 67.0% of the vote (178,434 votes) to Jones's 33.0% (87,986 votes) in the solidly Republican . The campaign emphasized responses to national economic challenges, particularly driven by federal policies, with Moore attributing rising costs to excessive spending and advocating for fiscal restraint.

2024

In the Republican primary for on June 25, 2024, incumbent Blake Moore faced challenger Paul Miller, a retired naval critical of Moore's support for federal spending increases and aid to . During their sole debate on June 10, hosted by the Utah Debate Commission, Moore defended his budget votes as necessary compromises amid divided government while highlighting his efforts on the House Ways and Means Committee to curb deficits through -modeled fiscal reforms. Moore secured the nomination with a strong margin, reflecting the district's conservative leanings. Moore's general election campaign emphasized fiscal restraint, including proposals to extend tax cuts responsibly and reduce regulatory burdens on production, alongside promoting tech innovation in northern 's growing "" corridor. On November 5, 2024, amid national Republican gains that preserved their House majority, Moore won re-election against Democrat Bill Campbell, a former , and Libertarian Daniel Cottam, capturing 63.13% of the vote to Campbell's 32.06% and Cottam's 4.81%. in the district aligned with 's overall participation, exceeding 70% statewide.

Committee assignments

Moore serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, marking him as the first Republican from to hold such a position since his appointment in the 118th Congress. This committee exercises jurisdiction over federal taxation, tariffs, debt management, and social welfare programs including Medicare and Social Security. Within Ways and Means, Moore is assigned to the subcommittees on , Social Security, and , allowing him to address issues such as healthcare cost controls, retirement program solvency, and trade policy adjustments that impact 's economy. These subcommittee roles facilitate his input on routing through the committee, including proposals for reforming entitlement spending and enhancing trade enforcement mechanisms. Moore is also assigned to the House Committee on the Budget, which develops the annual congressional budget resolution and conducts oversight of federal fiscal matters. In this capacity, he has focused on deficit reduction strategies, advocating for spending restraints and economic growth measures to address the national debt exceeding $35 trillion as of 2025. His involvement supports Republican priorities for balancing budgets through targeted reforms, with bills on fiscal accountability often originating or advancing via committee review. These assignments collectively amplify his influence on taxation and budgeting, key areas for bipartisan negotiations and party-line fiscal reforms.

Caucus memberships and leadership roles

Moore was elected Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference on November 8, 2023, succeeding Mike Johnson following Johnson's ascension to Speaker of the House. In this fourth-ranking GOP leadership position, Moore contributes to conference messaging, vote unification on fiscal measures such as spending bills, and advancement of party priorities including debt reduction and economic policy. He was re-elected to the role for the 119th Congress on November 13, 2024, after declining to pursue the higher-ranking conference chair position. Beyond party leadership, Moore co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Future Caucus, which unites younger members across party lines to address long-term policy challenges like fiscal sustainability and innovation. He also participates in the , a group focused on bipartisan negotiation in a divided , reflecting his emphasis on pragmatic over ideological rigidity. In December 2024, Moore announced he would co-chair the House DOGE Caucus, aimed at collaborating with the Department of Government Efficiency initiative to develop policies reducing federal spending and bureaucracy. These roles underscore Moore's growing influence within Republican ranks, positioning him as a bridge between establishment and reform-oriented factions on issues like national debt.

Legislative record and policy positions

Moore has sponsored or cosponsored emphasizing fiscal transparency, including advocacy for single-subject appropriation bills to limit omnibus packages and allow focused debate on spending items. In remarks opposing large continuing resolutions, he highlighted the need for such reforms to curb hidden provisions and enhance in federal budgeting. On taxation, Moore supports the permanent extension of the 2017 (TCJA) provisions, arguing they deliver relief to middle-income families rather than solely benefiting high earners, and has defended these cuts amid debates over their distributional impacts. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, he has prioritized tax policies promoting economic growth and opposing increases that could hinder competitiveness. In healthcare, Moore backs market-oriented reforms to reduce costs and expand access, including efforts to address pricing and protect coverage without mandating government-controlled systems; he has cosponsored bills targeting waste in Medicare and promoting price transparency. For Social Security solvency, he advocates structural adjustments like raising the retirement age and means-testing benefits to ensure long-term viability amid demographic pressures, rejecting benefit cuts for current retirees. Moore's voting record reflects strong support for border security measures, including a yea vote on H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which sought to resume wall construction, increase personnel, and impose asylum restrictions. He has consistently opposed expansive regulations, voting against packages like the "Protecting Our Kids Act" (H.R. 7910) that imposed new restrictions on firearms and against environmental measures undermining oil and gas leasing reforms. On , his votes favor domestic production, including opposition to LNG export curbs and support for dispatchable power interconnection to bolster grid reliability.

Fiscal policy initiatives and debates

Moore established the Debt and Deficit Task Force during his first term, convening local leaders from across to develop frameworks for addressing the national debt through spending reforms and policies. The , which continues to meet regularly, emphasizes reducing federal spending's crowding-out effect on private investment, citing economic analyses that link high debt-to-GDP ratios to suppressed GDP growth. Moore has incorporated its recommendations into legislative priorities, including calls for comprehensive budget reforms to tackle the $1.9 trillion deficit reported in 2024, which he attributed to unsustainable executive policies. As a member of the House Budget Committee, Moore has advocated for balanced budget mechanisms and debt ceiling adjustments tied to enforceable spending caps, warning that unchecked interest payments—projected to exceed defense spending by 2025—pose a national security risk. He supported the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which included debt limit suspension alongside targeted spending reductions totaling $1.5 trillion over a decade, arguing it provided a pragmatic path to fiscal discipline amid divided government. In September 2024, Moore highlighted the debt as a greater threat than foreign adversaries during a bipartisan House floor discussion, urging reforms to the congressional budget process that currently limits direct votes to only 25% of federal outlays. Moore has defended the use of continuing resolutions (CRs) to avert shutdowns, voting for short-term measures in 2023 and January 2024 to maintain operations while negotiating deeper cuts, citing the economic disruptions from prior shutdowns—estimated at $11 billion in lost productivity during the 2018-2019 event—as evidence against . He similarly backed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), passed by the in May 2025, which extended 2017 tax cuts, expanded the by $500 to $2,500 per child, and increased the , while incorporating provisions for work requirements and small business expensing to offset costs. Moore argued these targeted measures promote growth amid political constraints, countering claims of elite favoritism by noting Congressional Budget Office projections of net benefits for middle-income families through lower effective tax rates. Critics, including 2024 primary challenger Paul Miller, have accused Moore of insufficient spending restraint, pointing to his support for supplemental aid packages—including $61 billion for Ukraine in 2024—as exacerbating deficits without corresponding domestic cuts. Miller argued during June 2024 debates that Moore's CR votes perpetuated baseline budgeting, failing to achieve the "hard no" on bloated appropriations needed for causal deficit reduction. Moore countered that shutdowns impose asymmetric costs—disproportionately harming federal workers and contractors without forcing Democratic concessions—while strategic bills like the 2025 package yielded verifiable offsets, such as rescinding unspent COVID-era funds. Empirical data from the Government Accountability Office supports Moore's view on shutdown impacts, documenting over $3 billion in direct costs from the 2018-2019 closure alone, though detractors maintain such concessions entrench long-term fiscal imbalances.

Personal life

Family and residence

Moore is married to Jane Boyer Moore, whom he wed prior to his diplomatic posting in Singapore. The couple has four sons—Max, George, Winston, and Franklin—the youngest of whom was born in late November 2021. As of December 2023, all four boys were under the age of 11. The family resides in in northern Utah, where Moore was born and raised in Ogden. Moore maintains his primary home in the district and commutes regularly between Ogden-area commitments and , to support his congressional responsibilities while prioritizing family proximity. This arrangement underscores his ongoing ties to the northern community he represents.

Religious affiliations and community engagement

Moore is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Following his high school graduation, he served a two-year proselytizing mission for the Church in , , before transferring to and graduating from the . This mission exemplifies the LDS Church's emphasis on voluntary service and global outreach, requiring full-time dedication to teaching and community assistance. Moore's faith informs aspects of his public life, including policy stances on civil rights and international relations; for instance, he has cited Mormon principles of self-reliance, family, and democratic governance as aligning with support for Israel. In community contexts, he has promoted Utah's top national ranking in volunteerism and charitable service per AmeriCorps data, attributing it to local values of philanthropy that resonate with LDS doctrines on welfare and mutual aid. While specific personal volunteer roles beyond his mission are not publicly detailed, his legislative efforts, such as reintroducing the Charitable Act in 2025 to expand tax incentives for donations to faith-based and local organizations, reflect engagement with community support mechanisms.

References

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