Democratic officeholders support Rep. Jim Matheson's re-election bid

SALT LAKE CITY — A group of state and local Democratic officeholders endorsed U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, on Monday, the very act a reflection of how some federal incumbents inside and outside Utah are worrying this year.

While Matheson, the lone Democrat in the Utah congressional delegation, predicted he would win the 2nd Congressional District Democratic nomination and a sixth term from the district, he also asked Utahns to consider his whole 10-year record, not just one or two votes.

Matheson voted against President Barack Obama's health care reform bill this spring, just one reason for a Utah Democratic backlash he's now facing from some party members.

"I've made 6,000 votes" in the House, "and I'm happy to engage anyone on any of those issues," Matheson said at a news conference in the Senate Democratic caucus room in the state Capitol.

One Democratic officeholder after another came to the microphone to say why they are supporting Matheson, pointing out how he has stood up for Utahns in pushing for no new nuclear bomb testing, as well as for anti-discrimination laws for homosexuals, responsible spending, stem-cell research and other issues that may appeal not only to Utah Democrats, but independents and even some Republicans.

Matheson for the first time faces an intra-party challenge this year. Claudia Wright is challenging him from the left of the Democratic Party. Matheson also has three Republican, two independent and one Constitution Party challenger.

Matheson has been severely criticized by more liberal Utah Democrats, who say it would be better to have a Republican in the 2nd District than Matheson with his conservative politics.

But state Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houk, D-Salt Lake, said while Washington, D.C., is awash in heated rhetoric from the left and right, "I've always found (Matheson) calm, his deliberative process very comforting and refreshing."

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, who will head the Democratic ticket in his challenge to GOP Gov. Gary Herbert, said Matheson "is not your typical politician. He's an everyday person who works in a bipartisan fashion."

Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones, who works with her husband, pollster Dan Jones, said that in her survey interviews with Utahns across the state, "they say he is the only congressman who calls them back."