NRCC MEMO: UTAH PRIMARY RESULTS
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: JUNE 22, 2010
SUBJECT: UTAH PRIMARY RESULTS
In the deeply Republican state of Utah, the toxic anti-incumbent environment reared its head once again in today’s Democratic primary. With unemployment on the rise and widespread concern about an out-of-control federal spending spree taking root among the state’s large conservative base, Utah’s lone Democrat federal office holder emerged damaged from his contested primary and must now turn to November while defending an increasingly out-of-touch liberal voting record.
Challengers:
UT-02 (Rep. Jim Matheson, D)
In a state heavily dominated by Republicans at the federal and statewide levels, Democrat Rep. Jim Matheson has managed to piece together a sufficient coalition of moderate and conservative voters in order to win re-election against a string of Republican challengers. This year, following a lackluster performance at his nominating convention and his first-ever primary challenge from liberal Claudia Wright, Matheson tacked hard to the left in order to regain credibility with the Second District’s small but vocal liberal faction. While Matheson outspent Wright – who was recruited to run through an online classified ad – by over $700,000, he earned an underwhelming share of the vote against his underfunded challenger. Matheson spent over $300,000 on television ad buys during the last days of the primary campaign.
Thanks to his shameless political posturing, Matheson has survived his primary but has damaged his credibility as a moderate in this largely conservative district. Matheson enhanced his liberal bona fides when he received a last-minute push from Organizing for America, the political arm of the Obama White House. In addition to his newfound relationship with President Obama, Matheson has attempted to safeguard his left flank by racking up an increasingly liberal record: He approved the failed trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ plan, voted against repealing a central, economically devastating provision to the unpopular Obama healthcare bill, and voted to raise the nation’s debt ceiling by $2 trillion.
Republican Morgan Philpot won the nomination outright at May’s nominating convention and did not face a primary race. Unlike Matheson, Philpot represents a clear conservative voice for this bright red district. As a state representative and GOP official, Philpot established a track record of fighting against wasteful spending and big government. In this deeply Republican seat, Philpot will be the only conservative on the ballot in November.
History: The Second District delivered overwhelming wins for George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008, with 66 percent and 58 percent of the vote, respectively. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+15, this is the fifth most Republican district in the country represented by a Democrat.
Geography: The Second District covers the entire eastern and southern portions of Utah. Its population base lies in Salt Lake County. It stretches from affluent neighborhoods of Salt Lake City in the north through Moab in the east and down to St. George in the state’s southwest region.
Incumbents:
Neither Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) nor Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) faces credible opposition this November.
Statewide Roundup:
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Utah. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the Utah Secretary of State.
DISTRICT NAME RAW VOTE %__
*indicates incumbent
UT-02 (Democrat primary)
33.3% reporting
Matheson* 9,949 67.7% (Declared winner)
Wright 4,741 32.3%