The son of Somali immigrants shaking up Utah’s Democratic primary

Liban Mohamed is the progressive underdog in the race for a House seat but victory at the state party convention offers grounds for optimism

Liban Mohamed, a 27-year-old son of Somali immigrants, is headed into a high-stakes Utah Democratic congressional primary in June after narrowly winning the state party convention last month with 51% of the vote in what was seen as an upset for the party's political establishment.

The sudden emergence of an unknown progressive candidate in Utah has exposed a growing divide within the state's Democratic party, one that mirrors a broader tension across the national party between its moderate establishment and a younger, more progressive wing.