UT-SEN

Poll: Could A Democrat Get Elected To The Senate From Utah?

Eric Kleefeld | July 12, 2011, 12:46PM

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)

A new survey of Utah from Public Policy Polling (D) finds a surprising result: That in this deep, deep, deep-red state, Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson could potentially be a competitive -- or even winning -- candidate for U.S. Senate.

Matheson, a Blue Dog Democrat, was tested against incumbent six-term Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, plus GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who could potentially challenge Hatch for the Republican nomination. The result showed Matheson edging out Hatch by 45%-44%, and leading Chaffetz by 47%-42%.

The poll showed Matheson with a 59% favorable rating, to 28% unfavorable. Two other Democrats were tested -- former state Attorney General Jan Graham, and 2010 Senate nominee and state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control chairman Sam Granato -- and they both trailed Hatch and Chaffetz by martins of about 20 points in all cases.

Of course, it should be noted that the idea of a Democratic senator from Utah does fall into the category of "believe it when you see it." And even then, you'd still have your doubts.

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Government Shutdown

Dems Press Boehner To Suspend Congressional Pay In Event Of Government Shutdown

Brian Beutler | March 31, 2011, 5:10PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Late Update: The bill will be brought to the floor for a vote Friday, according to GOP leadership. "The House GOP agrees, which is why a bill will be brought to the floor tomorrow to do just that," says Brad Dayspring spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Original Story:

Democrats in both the House and Senate are pressing Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to take up legislation that would suspend congressional pay in the event of a government shutdown.

"Given the fact that a shutdown will cause real harm to millions of Americans, Congress must accept the same consequences if it fails to keep the government functioning," reads a letter from Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY), cosigned by over two dozen Dems, to Boehner. "The House must be given an opportunity to vote on clean bill that leaves no doubt that Members of Congress cannot receive a paycheck while the rest of the nation suffers from inaction on government funding for this year."

Just yesterday, over a dozen Dem senators sent a similar letter to Boehner. Weeks ago, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to precisely this effect. And now, both House and Senate Dems are asking for a vote on that bill in the House.

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Spending

Thirteen House Dems Vote With GOP To Defund Obama 'Czars'

Brian Beutler | February 17, 2011, 7:46PM

President Barack Obama

Thirteen Democrats bolstered the GOP's frame that several of President Obama's unconfirmed advisers are "czars" by voting for an amendment to the House spending bill that would defund their offices.

They are Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK), Ben Chandler (D-KY), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Pete DeFazio (D-OR), Gene Green (D-TX), Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Mike Ross (D-AR), and Heath Shuler (D-NC).

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Blue Dogs

Conservadems Try To Strip Pelosi's Power To Assign Committees

Brian Beutler | November 17, 2010, 12:01PM

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Three of the conservative Democrats who've been grousing about Nancy Pelosi's bid to lead the party in the 112th Congress are trying meekly to strip her of some of the perks that come with being top dog -- like making committee assignments.

In a letter circulated to Democratic members this morning ahead of the Dems' leadership elections, Reps. Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), are trying build support for stripping Pelosi of the powers that come with being minority leader.

"In light of the significant losses our party suffered earlier this month, we believe it is imperative that today's organizational meeting should provide all Members the opportunity to openly debate the rules that will be proposed for the 112th Congress and offer amendments that they believe would improve the ability of the Caucus to develop and message a Democratic agenda, recruit candidates, and return Democrats to the majority in 2012," they write.

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UT-02

Utah Blue Dog Matheson Wins Against Primary Challenger

Eric Kleefeld | June 22, 2010, 11:57PM

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)

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.

UT-02

Utah Blue Dog Dem Matheson Forced Into House Primary

Eric Kleefeld | May 10, 2010, 2:46PM

Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT)

It was a busy political convention weekend in Utah, with party activists feeling restless. Over on the Democratic side, five-term Rep. Jim Matheson was unable to reach 60% of the delegate vote at his party's convention, forcing him into a primary for his house seat against retired high school teacher and adjunct college instructor Claudia Wright. And all this in the same weekend that saw Utah GOPers unseat their own incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett.

Matheson took 55% of the vote to Wright's 45% -- a stunning position for a nine-year incumbent. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Democratic activists were put off by the Blue Dog Matheson's instances of voting against the Democratic legislative agenda, with his vote against the new health care reform law as one example.

"You're angry about some of my votes," Matheson told the convention, which responded with what the Tribune described as ironic applause. "But I'm a Democrat and I'm here to tell you I don't run from that label because it's in my blood."

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Health Care

Barrasso Falsely Claims House Dem Voted For Health Care Bill As Part Of Sweetheart Deal (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | March 23, 2010, 11:40AM

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)

It's hardly a secret that Republicans are trying to characterize the just-passed health care bill as a product of a bunch of secret, shady backroom deals--the "Cornhusker Kickback," the "Louisiana Purchase," the "Gator-Aid," and so on. But this morning on Fox News, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) came up with a new one--that just happens to be completely false.

"In Utah, a member from Utah that voted on the bill, he was against it and then he was for it. What a coincidence that his brother just got named to be a federal judge," Barrasso said.

Barrasso's referring to Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), whose highly qualified brother Scott was indeed nominated recently to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. But here's the thing: Matheson voted no.

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