Utah Democrat Rep. Matheson Won't Seek 8th Term.

[elleng]

Source: nyt/ap

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah says he will not run for an eighth term in Congress next year.

Matheson was expected to face a tough repeat challenge in 2014 from Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love, a Republican who he narrowly defeated in 2012.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/12/17/us/ap-us-matheson-retirement.html?hp&_r=0

[LadyHawkAZ]

1. -1 (D) seat in the House

barring some sort of miracle, and I think miracles are forbidden in Utah.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. Yup. This seat has no chance whatsoever of remaining Democratic...

It's beyond the reach of a miracle. Joseph Smith himself could run as a Democrat for this seat and he'd still lose to the Republican.

Matheson saw the writing on the wall. He barely, BARELY won last go around (by only a thousand or so votes) and there was no way he was going to win reelection this time. Not in a midterm when Utahns are even more anti-Democrat than they were in 2012 and 2010.

[LadyHawkAZ]

5. I was frankly shocked that he pulled it off last time

I hadn't even bothered to watch the numbers come in, thinking Love was a done deal.

I agree, we can kiss that seat goodbye for the foreseeable future.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. I think Matheson would've lost this go around and knew it.

It won't be a Democratic year - not in Utah, anyway, and Love barely losing pretty much was the writing on the wall. I wouldn't doubt if his own polls had him down. U also wouldn't doubt if he has his eye on the governor's mansion or senate - two elections he couldn't win had he lost to Love.

[a kennedy]

2. Mia Love....

the darling of the repubs. She's African American and a she, and is just what that party needs.

[KamaAina]

3. And she isn't the only black repuke in Utah!

though she may be the shortest; the other is NBA legend Karl Malone.