A GOP former state lawmaker who voted for Biden in 2020, was against overturning Roe v. Wade, and supported impeaching Trump could soon be headed to Congress

• Former Utah state Rep. Becky Edwards could soon be House Republicans' newest member.
• She voted for Biden, backed impeaching Trump, and said Roe v. Wade didn't need to be revisited.

House Republicans might be getting an iconoclastic new colleague later this year, if recent polling is any indication.

Former state Rep. Becky Edwards, who voted for President Joe Biden and supported the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump, holds a commanding lead in the special election to replace retiring Republican Rep. Chris Stewart in Utah's 2nd congressional district.

The Republican primary is set to take place on Tuesday, and given that Trump carried the district by nearly 17 points in 2020 — and Stewart won by more than 25 points last year — the winner is highly likely to defeat Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in the general election on November 21.

According to a recent poll by Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of Politics, 32% of Republicans in the 2nd congressional district support Edwards, while just 11% support rival Bruce Hough and 9% support Celeste Maloy. However, 47% of respondents said they're undecided, injecting some continued uncertainty into the race.

If Edwards prevails, she will instantly become one of the most interesting lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

After voting for Biden and encouraging others to do so in 2020, she told the Salt Lake Tribune in 2022 that Trump was rightfully impeached for his role in inciting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol.

She's also broken with her party on abortion.

During an unsuccessful 2022 primary campaign against Republican Sen. Mike Lee, she said during one debate that she didn't "see a compelling issue to overturn" Roe v. Wade, and that if it were overturned, she would "support efforts to support women's health and support children."

Edwards later told the Tribune's editorial board that she believes "in the sanctity of life" and that "no one" thinks abortion is "a perfect solution to a horrific problem."

Edwards, who served for 10 years in the Utah state House from 2009 to 2019, has notably declined to attend any debates and has avoided on-camera interviews during the special election campaign.

Given House Republicans' narrow majority, her vote would become all-important for the party to pass its legislative agenda, and she could potentially emerge as a more moderate voice in the conference, akin to Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska or Mike Lawler of New York.

Perhaps the best analog to Edwards, though, would be Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah — a conservative Republican who's consistently criticized Trump and occasionally votes with Democrats.

"One thing I admire about Mitt Romney is his commitment to follow his conscience," Edwards told the Tribune last year. "I don't think he is dictated to by political whims or pressures. And he's very consistent in his approach. And I respect that."

The 2nd district includes parts of the Salt Lake City area and a large swath of the rural southwestern portion of the state.

Edwards' campaign did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.