UT-SEN

Report: Chaffetz Won't Challenge Hatch For GOP Senate Nomination

Eric Kleefeld | August 22, 2011, 2:43PM

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who had long been eyeing a primary challenge against long-time Sen. Orrin Hatch, is expected to announce later today that he will not seek the Senate, and instead run for re-election to the House, the Salt Lake Tribune reports -- thus removing the single greatest threat to Hatch's re-election.

The Hatch and Chaffetz camps had already been fighting it out in public, in expectation of the likely contest. In addition, polling had shown that Hatch was vulnerable after 35 years securely in office, thanks in part to the overall anti-incumbent restlessness that has seen the rise of the Tea Party movement.

However, Chaffetz would have had to have risked a lot -- a secure spot in the House, and a position as a major voice among House conservatives -- for a Senate bid that would not have been any sure thing. In addition, Hatch has been going further to the right, with his support for a "Balanced Budget Amendment" proposal that would limit government spending and put up roadblocks to tax increases. Perhaps as a result, a more recent survey was showing Hatch with a lead over Chaffetz.

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Poll: Chaffetz Leads Hatch In Potential Senate Primary Challenge

Eric Kleefeld | July 13, 2011, 3:54PM

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

A new survey of Utah from Public Policy Polling (D) shows longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch vulnerable for the Republican nomination, trailing his potential opponent Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

The numbers: Chaffetz 47%, Hatch 43%. The survey of Republican primary voters was conducted from July 8-10, and has a ±4.9% margin of error.

Chaffetz, who was first elected to Congress in 2008 by defeating an incumbent in the GOP primary, has been considering a challenge against Hatch. The poll gives Chaffetz a favorable rating of 61%, to 17% unfavorable. Hatch's approval rating is actually a very similar 60%, to a disapproval of 28%.

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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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UT-SEN

Chaffetz vs. Hatch -- On The Radio

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2011, 5:45AM

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Two top Utah politicians are starting to line up against each other in the state's Senate race, with longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch facing a likely challenge for the Republican nomination from two-term Rep. Jason Chaffetz -- and they're fighting it out via talk radio.

Chaffetz, who first came to Congress after defeating incumbent GOP Rep. Chris Cannon, has been sending lots of signals that he could try to harness the Tea Party anti-incumbent fervor and turn it against Hatch. And in turn, Hatch was sent a serious message in 2010, when his fellow Sen. Bob Bennett was defeated at the state GOP convention, unable to even advance to a primary under the procedures used in the state.

It is important to note that the state convention system used in Utah -- in which a candidate can win a nomination outright by a vote of 60% of delegates at the state convention, without need for a primary -- can seriously empower the party's right-wing activist base. As such, the early phase of this fight is not fought out through a wider primary electorate, but through activists and a caucus system. Thus, targeted radio shows and the activities of activist groups will be the initial field of battle.

Now, Hatch and Chaffetz have hit the radio hustings.

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Orrin Hatch

Orrin Hatch: 'Obamacare' A 'Dumbass Program'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 28, 2011, 5:24PM

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

In his quest to transform himself from establishment elder statesman to tea party insurgent, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) just took a few steps down the path toward becoming the Melissa Leo of the U.S. Senate.

A spokesperson confirms to TPM that the Senior Senator from Utah referred to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as "an awful piece of crap" and a "dumb-ass program" during an appearance at Utah State University last week.

Hatch immediately apologized for dropping the twin PG-13 bombs on the room full of college Republicans, and promised to "repent for using the words that he did."

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Senate '12

Poll: Majority Of Utah Voters Think Sen. Hatch Should Go

Jon Terbush | February 24, 2011, 9:27AM

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Last year, Utah voters ousted incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett (R) -- and now, a majority of them say it's time for the state's other Senator, Orrin Hatch (R), to go as well.

In a new Utah Policy poll, 54% of Utah voters said it was time to send someone else to Washington in Hatch's place, while only 31% said Hatch should be reelected to the seat he has held for 34 years. The poll also had dire news for Hatch's chances of surviving a primary challenge. In a hypothetical match-up with two-term Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Hatch only managed a tie at 42% apiece.

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Poll: Hatch Under 50 Percent Against Chaffetz

Eric Kleefeld | February 15, 2011, 12:27PM

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

A new poll out of Utah finds Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch leading his possible challenger for the GOP nomination in 2012, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, but nevertheless measuring under the crucial 50% mark for his own support.

The new numbers from Dan Jones: Hatch 44%, Chaffetz 34%. The poll of Utah residents has a ±4.4% margin of error.

Chaffetz, who was elected to the House in 2008, has responded to the poll, Deseret News reports. "Not bad for a rookie. I'm excited. What an honor," said Chaffetz. "I was nine years old when he (Hatch) took office."

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Mike Lee: 'Not My Intention To Support Any Candidate' In Hatch's Primary (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 11, 2011, 1:00PM

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who effectively won his Senate seat when he defeated incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett for the Republican nomination, now says he won't take any position in the next GOP Senate contest in Utah -- where his senior Senator, Orrin Hatch will likely face a primary challenge of his own.

It is widely expected that Hatch will face a stiff challenge from Rep. Jason Chaffetz, already leading in recent polls . Hatch has recently gone out of his way to impress the Tea Partiers, most notably appearing at the Tea Party Express town hall in Washington this week. TPMDC's own Evan McMorris-Santoro asked Lee at that event whether he would endorse Hatch -- and got no answer.

Lee appeared this morning on The Daily Rundown on MSNBC, where Chuck Todd asked him: "Senator Lee, does your colleague in Utah, Senator Orrin Hatch, deserve re-election?"

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Tea Party Express Loves Orrin Hatch: 'An Original Tea Partier'

Eric Kleefeld | January 27, 2011, 3:56PM

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

In some good news for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), he will not be targeted for defeat from the right by the Tea Party Express, which in 2010 supported such primary insurgents (and general election losers) as Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell. And far from attacking Hatch as a RINO, National Review reports, Hatch is being hailed as "an original tea partier" -- apparently thanks to some old connections.

Just this past cycle in 2010, Hatch's fellow Utah Sen. Bob Bennett was defeated for renomination at his state GOP convention, following an activist uprising motivated in part by his vote for the TARP bailout. Hatch -- who also voted for TARP -- has also had some weak polling and could face a challenge from Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

An important thing to note: While Tea Party Express, a project of Our Country Deserves Better PAC, is branded as an outsider organization, their chief strategist is Sal Russo. For his part, Russo is a longtime GOP strategist who has worked for Republican politicians such as Jack Kemp, George Pataki -- and Orrin Hatch, with whom he has a long history.

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Senate '12

Poll: Hatch Could Face Tough Road Back To Senate In 2012

Jon Terbush | January 18, 2011, 12:43PM

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

In 2010, Utah Republicans ousted Sen. Bob Bennett at the party's nominating convention, and according to a new Utah Policy poll, they may be ready to give the state's other incumbent Senator the boot in 2012.

In the poll, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) trailed two challengers in a hypothetical primary contest. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they'd support former Governor Jon Huntsman if he made a bid for the party nod, while 23% said they'd back Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and 21% said they'd support Hatch.

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Republicans

Quit Whining: Cornyn Pushes Back On Bennett's Tea Party Criticisms

Brian Beutler | July 13, 2010, 9:51AM

Senators Bob Bennett (R-UT) and John Cornyn (R-TX)

NRSC Chairman John Cornyn disagrees with his colleague, Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) that the rise of the Tea Party is bad news for Republicans this election cycle. Late last week, Bennett made waves by declaring, among other things, that the Tea Party will allow Harry Reid to save his Nevada Senate seat. Cornyn responded yesterday by speculating that Bennett's recent defeat at the Utah Republican convention.

"I disagree with that," Cornyn told TPMDC. "I respect Sen. Bennett a lot. He's been through a tough experience because of the unusual selection process in his state and that may have had some impact on his views."

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UT-SEN

AP: Mike Lee Wins Utah GOP Senate Primary To Replace Bob Bennett

Eric Kleefeld | June 23, 2010, 12:57AM

Senate candidate Mike Lee (R-UT)

Attorney Mike Lee has won the Republican Senate primary in Utah, the Associated Press projects, defeating businessman Tim Bridgewater after they had jointly knocked out incumbent GOP Sen. Bob Bennett last month.

With 84% of precincts reporting, Lee leads Bridgewater by 52%-48%. Bennett was eliminated at his state Republican convention in May, due in part to anger among the regular grassroots over his vote for TARP, combined with the new rise of anti-incumbent Tea Party activism. Lee and Bridgewater then went on to face each other in a primary, as neither received the 60% delegate vote needed to clinch the nomination outright. Bridgewater very nearly took the nomination with 57% of the delegates, but Lee was able to win tonight.

After the convention, Bennett subsequently endorsed Bridgewater, choosing from among the two opponents who had previously defeated him, while groups such as the Tea Party Express backed Lee -- with the latter winning out. Lee is heavily favored to win election in this deep-red state, which voted for John McCain by a 63%-34% margin in 2008, and last voted for a Democratic Senator in 1970.

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Bob Bennett Won't Attempt Write-In Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | May 20, 2010, 12:31PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), who was defeated for renomination at his state Republican convention nearly two weeks ago, has announced that he will not try to hold on to office through a write-in campaign.

"I will not run a write-in campaign for the Senate race in Utah," said Bennett, who was successfully targeted for defeat at his party convention by the Club For Growth and the Tea Party movement, due to his having voted for the TARP bailout and having worked on a health care reform proposal with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Bennett was first elected to the Senate in 1992, and has served for three terms. When he lost at the state GOP convention earlier this month, Bennett became the first incumbent Senator to lose re-election in the 2010 cycle, followed this week by Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter in his Democratic primary. The eventual Republican nominee in this deep-red state will be determined in a June 22 primary between attorney Mike Lee and businessman Tim Bridgewater, who both defeated Bennett for spots on the ballot under the Utah convention process.

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Bob Bennett: 'Stay Tuned Tomorrow' For Decision On Possible Write-In Bid

Eric Kleefeld | May 19, 2010, 2:35PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), who was defeated for renomination at the state Republican convention a week and a half ago, is seemingly poised to announce tomorrow whether he will fight on in the general election with a write-in bid.

Speaking to USA Today, Bennett was rather cryptic. Here is their report:

Asked in an interview whether he would pursue the write-in route, Bennett offered his standard line: "Once I make that decision, you'll be the second to know," he said. But Bennett, 76, then added, "Stay tuned tomorrow." Asked if that meant he would announce his decision tomorrow, Bennett repeated, "Stay tuned tomorrow."

The Republican nominee in this deep-red state is yet to be determined, with a June 22 primary between attorney Mike Lee and businessman Tim Bridgewater, who both defeated Bennett for spots on the ballot under the Utah convention process.

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Utah Lt. Gov's Office: A Bennett Write-In Win Would Be Unprecedented

Ben Frumin | May 13, 2010, 11:18AM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), who failed in his renomination bid after his own party dumped him at its convention earlier this month, hasn't ruled out a write-in campaign.

But if he did attempt to win as a write-in, it'd be a tough, unprecedented undertaking.

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Bob Bennett

Is Bob Bennett Considering Running As A Write-In Candidate?

Ben Frumin | May 11, 2010, 5:41PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) -- who lost his renomination bid at last weekend's Utah GOP convention -- might still run for Senate again this year. He hasn't ruled it out yet.

Asked today about the possibility of running as a write-in candidate this fall, Bennett didn't say no.

"I've made no decisions to make a decision," Bennett said, adding that he would decide "later."

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Bob Bennett

Republicans And Democrats Mourn Bennett's Defeat

Brian Beutler | May 10, 2010, 5:51PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Republicans and Democrats are unanimous: the end of Bob Bennett's career is a loss for the Senate--perhaps for the country. In fact, it is with almost a sense of reluctance that GOP leaders say they'll support the eventual winner of the Republican primary in Utah--likely a Tea Party-backed insurgent candidate with no experience in politics.

Part of that sentiment, no doubt, has to do with the myopic and inward-looking culture of the Senate itself. Bennett, for better or worse, was part of the club, and the club protects its own. But Bennett--no centrist, he--was, by all accounts ousted thanks to conservative anger over of a handful of instances in which he worked with Democrats, or cast difficult, but perhaps necessary, votes. He voted for TARP, for instance, and he co-authored a far-reaching health care reform bill with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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UT-SEN

Club For Growth: 'We Put A Lot Of Work' Into Defeating Bob Bennett

Eric Kleefeld | May 10, 2010, 1:49PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

The Club For Growth is declaring victory from the defeat of Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) at this past weekend's Utah Republican convention, when the incumbent was denied renomination after three terms. And what's more, they are pointing to a whole record of successes in Republican Senate primaries so far this cycle.

In an interview with TPMDC, Club executive director David Keating estimated that the group spent about $180,000 against the incumbent Senator.

"Well, we put a lot of work into it. I think as far as I could tell, we were the only organization that was trying to defeat Bennett at the convention," said Keating. "So we put a lot of effort into the caucus itself. What we hoped to do, and it seemed to work well, was to drive up knowledge about Bennett's record -- and to tell people that there even was a caucus, which a lot of people didn't seem to know."

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UT-SEN

Sen. Bob Bennett Loses Re-Nomination At Utah GOP Convention

Eric Kleefeld | May 8, 2010, 5:34PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) has lost at his state Republican convention -- officially defeating him for re-nomination without a primary. He is the first incumbent Senator to lose re-election in 2010, a Republican driven from office by the anti-establishment conservative insurgency.

The results of the second ballot, courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune: Businessman Tim Bridgewater 37%, attorney Mike Lee 36%, and the incumbent Sen. Bennett 27%. There will now be a final round of voting pitting Bridgewater against Lee, to see whether one of them can get 60% of the delegate vote and thus be nominated outright. If neither receives 60% of the delegate vote, the race will go to a primary on June 22.

It should of course be noted that Utah is one of the most conservative, Republican-friendly states in the nation. The last time it voted Democratic for president was in the 1964 Lyndon Johnson landslide; the last time it elected a Democratic Senator was 1970; and it voted for John McCain in 2008 by a margin of 63%-34%. So with that said, the eventual GOP nominee will be heavily favored to keep the seat in Republican hands.

Late Update: There will be a primary. Bridgewater took 57.28%, short of the magic 60%, to Lee's 42.72%.

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Bob Bennett Faces Moment Of Truth On Saturday

Eric Kleefeld | May 7, 2010, 5:31PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett's (R-UT) political life is on the line tomorrow, with a state Republican convention that has the power to deny him even any chance to fight for the GOP nomination in a primary -- and a party base that has been dissatisfied and sees him as being too settled in Washington after three terms.

Bennett, who for his part has a conservative voting record, has been targeted for defeat by the right for not being conservative enough. In addition to grassroots angst with his vote for the TARP bailout, the Club For Growth has also targeted him for having briefly worked with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on a health care bill, though he ultimately voted against the bill that passed a month and a half ago. At the party caucuses in March, many supporters of challenger candidates won delegate seats for the convention thanks to a heavily increased turnout.

Bennett faces a total of seven challengers at the convention, but three are the most significant: Attorney Mike Lee, businessman Tim Bridgewater, and businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar. A Mason-Dixon poll from two weeks ago, of a sample of convention delegates, gave Lee 37%, Bridgewater 20%, and Bennett only 16%, with Eagar at 11%.

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UT-SEN

Bye-Bye Bob Bennett? Why The GOP Senator Could Lose His Seat

Eric Kleefeld | May 3, 2010, 8:50AM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) could very well become the first incumbent Senator to lose re-election in 2010, when his state party convention convenes next weekend. So how is that even though Bennett has voted against the Obama administration's key initiatives, he may become a casualty of the anti-spending Tea Party right and its fellow travelers?

Bennett himself has offered an explanation, which rings true in many ways. There is an anti-incumbent, anti-establishment mood among conservative activists, who want to throw the bums out in Washington. "But in this state, there is no Democrat to get really mad at in this fashion, so they get mad at me," Bennett has said.

A recent Mason-Dixon poll of convention delegates gave attorney Mike Lee 37%, followed by businessman Tim Bridgewater with 20%, the incumbent Bennett at only 16%, and businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar with 11%. In another bad sign for Bennett, a whopping 61% of delegates view Bennett unfavorably, with only 28% having a favorable view of him.

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Poll: GOP Sen. Bennett On Brink Of Defeat For Renomination At State Convention

Eric Kleefeld | April 27, 2010, 11:24AM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

A new Mason-Dixon poll commissioned by the Salt Lake Tribune suggests that Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) could be doomed to defeat at his state GOP's convention in May -- which would defeat him for renomination without even having a primary.

The poll of convention delegates gave attorney Mike Lee 37%, followed by businessman Tim Bridgewater with 20%, the incumbent Bennett at only 16%, and businesswoman Cherilyn Eagar with 11%. In addition, a whopping 61% of delegates view Bennett unfavorably, with only 28% giving him a favorable rating.

Under the rules of the Utah GOP, a candidate with 60% of the convention vote will be nominated outright, with no primary. If the super-majority is not reached, then the final two contenders will have a primary -- meaning that a candidate must receive at least 40% of the convention vote in order to make it to the primary. With the incumbent Bennett at only 16%, it is seems highly unlikely that he could make it out of the convention.

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Club For Growth Goes After GOP Sen. Bennett In New Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2010, 5:58PM

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)

The conservative Club For Growth has launched a new attack ad against Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), who has become a top target for them in their quest each cycle to take out a Republican incumbent they deem to be insufficiently conservative.

Bennett has been in the Club's sights for quite some time. The new TV ad attacks Bennett for such big-spending programs as the TARP bailout and the "Bridge To Nowhere" in Alaska -- and even accuses him of colluding with liberals on health care reform. The ad then exhorts viewers to attend their local Republican Party precinct caucuses on March 23 -- a process that could potentially unseat Bennett, as explained below.

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