Daniel Rhead Cottam, a bariatric surgeon running as a Libertarian, is seeking Utah's 2nd Congressional District seat in the Nov. 3 general election.

Cottam faces Republican Blake D. Moore, Democrat Peter Crosby and independents Carlton E. Bowen and Robert M. Moesinger, according to BallotReady election data. He is certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Party: Libertarian
  • Residence: Not provided
  • Education: Bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University; doctor of medicine from the University of Texas, according to BallotReady profile data
  • Profession: Bariatric surgeon

Experience and public service

Cottam's background is in medicine.

According to his medical practice, the Bariatric Medical Institute of Utah, he has been recognized as a Center of Excellence Surgeon since 2005. He was the first surgeon in the United States to perform the single anastomosis loop duodenal switch, his practice says. He pioneered that procedure alongside Mitch Roslin of the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.

Cottam completed his residency at Nassau University Medical Center and a fellowship at the Mark Ravitch / Leon C. Hirsch Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He has also served as a professor of surgery at Touro University Medical Center, according to his practice. He worked as a master consultant at Medtronic, according to BallotReady profile data. He grew up in Houston, Texas.

On the issues

Cottam's campaign platform, provided through the Utah Libertarian Party, centers on healthcare and limited government. His campaign states that he "knows healthcare, and he knows how to fix it," adding that "Washington never can and never will be fixed by re-electing the people who've made it a mess."

According to his platform, the role of government is to "protect our liberties, not to abuse them." His campaign argues that in a closely divided Congress, a Libertarian representative would "have the ultimate power to get things done right."

The candidate did not provide specific policy proposals, implementation plans or funding details beyond this general platform statement.

Candidate responses were collected through the Utah Libertarian Party. The Bountiful-Farmington Record did not interview the candidate for this profile. Voters can find more information as it becomes available ahead of the general election.