The Other Rejected Incumbent in Utah

You've heard that Utah's republicans denied a place on the primary ballot to wingnut freakazoid 18-year Senator Bob Bennett yesterday.

But did you know that Utah's Democrats denied the party endorsement to incumbent Blue Dog representative Jim Matheson? And in doing so opened the door for - in Down with Tyranny's words - the great, great, gay progressive granddaughter of Brigham Young?

Down With Tyranny has it:

I'm finished bashing Utah. Over! Done! A hearty band of awesome Democrats there put their collective foot down and prevented anti-healthcare Blue Dog Jim Matheson from winning the party endorsement at yesterday's convention in Salt Lake City. No more South Park jokes for me. Matheson is one of the most reactionary Democrats in Congress, consistently crossing the aisle to vote with the Republicans on key issues. Since Obama was elected, his ProgressivePunch score-- a dismal 35.37-- has been identical to those of two of the most unsavory of the Old South Blue Dogs, John Barrow (GA) and Mike Ross (AR). And, like Barrow and Ross, he left the Democratic Party to vote for the anti-choice Stupak Amendment and against healthcare reform. Now Utah Democrats are sick enough of the ten-year incumbent to say no.

Sensing that retired school teacher Claudia Wright was making headway, Matheson put in a hysterical call begging Steny Hoyer to fly out to Salt Lake City to save him. Hoyer did fly out, and begged and cajoled delegates to vote for Matheson, but ultimately failed to secure the party endorsement for him. He came up 5% short of the 60% needed.

So what about Claudia? Well, how about this? She's Brigham Young's great great granddaughter! And she left the Mormon Church. And she's openly gay and living with her partner. And, better yet, she's a brilliant woman with a solidly Democratic platform that shows Matheson is really nothing but a tarted-up Republican in a blue jersey!

Wright still has to beat Matheson in the primary, and it won't be easy. But it's not Matheson's for the asking, either.

Read the whole thing.

You can support Wright here.