If Matheson aims higher, GOP plans to sweep him out

Utah Republican Party leaders say they will be ready to take the 2nd Congressional District away from Democrats next year should incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson abandon his seat to run for governor or the U.S. Senate.

Dave Hansen, the new chairman of the state GOP, told a local political Web site that he has "a feeling" that Matheson, a conservative Democrat who has won the 2nd District five times, will run for higher office in 2010.

Matheson won't say what he will do next year. In a recent interview with the Deseret News, Matheson said he's fundraising hard, like he always has, in his 2nd District. The candidate filing deadline is early March 2010.

Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said Tuesday he has no idea what Matheson will do.

"But no matter what, Democrats will win that seat" in 2010, Taylor said.

"I've never talked to Jim about his plans — from others I know he's looking at running for governor, for the Senate, and for re-election," Taylor said.

Taylor doesn't fault Hansen for planning for an open 2nd District seat in 2010 — "but it is certainly premature" to count on it.

Taylor said Democratic leaders will learn about Matheson's decision "when the rest of the world does."

Hansen told the newspaper he believes Matheson will "get tremendous pressure" from President Barack Obama's White House to run for either the governorship or Senate.

"Clearly, he is their best chance to win one of those offices — and the White House really wants one of them," he said. "I think there's a good chance (Matheson) will do it."

But, said Hansen, Utah is not trending more Democratic like some other Western states.

And should Matheson run for such a statewide office "he will be returning to being a private citizen — Republicans will win both of those races" in 2010, said Hansen.

Utah has not elected a Democratic governor since Matheson's father, the late Gov. Scott M. Matheson, won re-election in 1980. It hasn't elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1970.

Except for 2002 — when the GOP candidate almost nipped him after the Republican-controlled Legislature redrew his district into much more Republican areas — Matheson has won larger and larger victories.