Huntsman wins governor's seat

Republican Jon Huntsman Jr., drawing overwhelming support from Utah's huge Republican base, captured the race for Utah governor's office Tuesday.

Huntsman's win was based on a statistical analysis from voter interviews conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. With about 12 percent of precincts reporting, Huntsman carried about 63 percent of the vote.

The analysis showed Huntsman's strongest support came from Provo, in the Republican stronghold of Utah County. Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. drew most of his support from Salt Lake County.

Almost two hours after polls closed, Matheson called Huntsman to "congratulate him on being elected the next governor of Utah." He called Huntsman "a quality person from a great family."

Both candidates were equally recognizable to voters — their families are the closest thing to royalty in Utah — but given a choice, Utah residents were more likely to pick a Republican for statewide office.

"I like Huntsman's ideas, and I think he's a fresh face," said James Brinkerhoff, a 29-year-old customer service officer at the University of Utah hospital.

Matheson couldn't match Huntsman's campaign war chest, raising barely half of the Republican's $3.3 million, according to campaign spending disclosures filed as recently as Oct. 26.

Huntsman's election was a victory for parents lobbying for tax breaks for private-school tuition, which Matheson had opposed. It is almost certain to happen now, said Pat Rusk, president of the 18,000-teacher Utah Education Association, which endorsed Matheson. Still, Rusk said her organization would "work as hard as we can with the new governor to ensure that public education is a priority."