Utah Blue Dog Matheson Wins Against Primary Challenger

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)
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Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), a Blue Dog who was forced into a primary as a result of his vote against the health care bill, has easily survived the challenge from educator Claudia Wright.

With 31% of precincts reporting, Matheson leads Wright by 68%-32%. At the state Democratic convention in May, Matheson received 55% of the delegate vote against Wright’s 45%, short of the 60% threshold needed to be nominated without any primary at all in Utah.

But in the end, Matheson’s incumbency — and far superior war chest — easily put him over the top against his more liberal challenger. It should also be noted that the district voted 58%-40% for John McCain in 2008, and 66%-31% for George W. Bush in 2004. So had Matheson lost his nomination to a liberal challenger, the district would have stood a strong chance of going to the Republicans.

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