Chaffetz close to unseating Cannon

The fate of an incumbent congressman and two incumbent legislators are in the hands of voters tonight.

Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah, has been in a tight race with Jason Chaffetz, the former chief-of-staff for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., going into today's primary election. Now, with almost 70 percent of the precincts reporting, the incumbent looks to be in serious trouble.

Chaffetz is leading Cannon by 21 percent, 61 percent to 39 percent. That has actually increased since polls closed at 8 p.m., as Cannon began the night trailing by less than 10 percent.

In the only statewide race, chief deputy treasurer Richard Ellis is also winning by a significant margin over Rep. Mark Walker, R-Draper. With 80 percent of the precincts reporting, Ellis is leading with a 60 percent margin, a number he has maintained the entire night.

Two state representatives, Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, and Paul Neuenschwander, R-Bountiful, are also in trouble. Donnelson, in fact, looks to have lost, and Neuenschwander may be looking at a race that could go to a recount.

Ryan Wilcox was leading Donnelson with 61 percent. That race is almost complete, with 87 percent of the precincts reporting.

Neuenschwander was neck-and-neck with Becky Edwards, as both were at approximately 50 percent with 80 percent of the precincts reporting.

In Salt Lake County, voters were also casting ballots in a number of school board races, including the split Jordan School District.

Every county in the state, in fact, had at least one race to watch. Numerous school board races were being narrowed down to two candidates, and many county commission seats were in contention.