Two Utah political heavyweights eyeing key races

SALT LAKE CITY — Two of Utah's political heavyweights, Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson and GOP Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, said Thursday they're eyeing higher office.

Matheson, Utah's lone Democratic member of Congress, said he's looking at a bid for governor or even the U.S. Senate in addition to possibly running for a seventh term representing the 2nd District.

"I know I'm going to be running for office in Utah," Matheson said. "All three of those offices are still on the table."

Shurtleff, who just announced he is now cancer-free, told KSL Newsradio's Doug Wright he might run for Congress if he doesn't go after another term as attorney general or take a break from politics.

"There is politics in my future for sure," Shurtleff said, most likely in Washington, D.C. "I'm just trying to decide what's next."

Depending on what they decide, Matheson and Shurtleff could further shake up the political field for 2012. Candidates already are scrambling to position themselves now that Utah will have a new fourth congressional seat as a result of the most recent census.

If Matheson gets in the race to unseat GOP Gov. Gary Herbert or Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would mean his congressional seat would be open. The same would be true for the attorney general's office if Shurtleff steps out of that competition.

Matheson suggested Herbert and Hatch could be vulnerable enough to lose to a Democrat. Herbert was elected last year to serve the remainder of former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s term and Hatch has been in the Senate since 1976.

"I think it all depends on who's running against them," the congressman said. "But when I get involved in a political race, I always run to win. I feel pretty confident about the record I've established and how the people of Utah feel about me. I think if I'm in a race, I have a good opportunity."

What won't factor into his decision, Matheson said, is who else is in a race. "The decisions I make are based on … where I can best serve Utah," he said. "I'm not basing it on who I run against."

Shurtleff told the radio station he's ruled out a run against Herbert because his wife has no interest in serving as Utah's first lady. Shurtleff also insisted he won't run against Hatch, even though he said he's suggested to the senator it was time to retire.