Jim Matheson

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Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd district
In office
2001–present
Preceded by Merrill Cook
Born March 21, 1960 (1960-03-21) (age 48)
Salt Lake City, Utah
Political party Democratic
Spouse Amy Matheson
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Utah's 2nd congressional district (map). Matheson, a Democrat, represents a district in which President George W. Bush won 67% of the vote in 2004.

Contents

[edit] Early life and career

Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and obtained his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.B.A from the University of California, Los Angeles.[1] His father, Scott M. Matheson, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,[2] and his brother, Scott Matheson Jr., was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.[3] Matheson is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[4]

[edit] Political career

In 2000, Matheson was tapped to run in the 2nd District. The Democrats had high hopes of taking the seats in part because the 2nd has historically been friendlier to Democrats than the rest of Utah and in part because two-term incumbent Merrill Cook had a reputation for erratic behavior. The prospect of losing the seat frightened district Republicans enough that Cook was unseated in the primary by computer executive Derek Smith. However, Matheson defeated Smith handily, taking 56 percent of the vote even as George W. Bush won the district with 57% of the vote.

During the 2000s round of redistricting, the Republican-controlled state legislature significantly altered Matheson's district. The old 2nd had been located entirely in Salt Lake County since the 1980s round of redistricting; Salt Lake County has historically been much more liberal than the rest of Utah. The legislature drew all or part of 14 mostly rural counties in eastern and southern Utah into the 2nd. They were only connected to Salt Lake City by a narrow band of territory in Utah County. The new district was approximately six points more Republican than the old one. Matheson was thought to face difficult odds for reelection, even though his family has roots in southern Utah. As expected, the 2002 race was very close. Matheson defeated State Representative John Swallow by only 1,600 votes, due almost entirely to trouncing Swallow by 25,800 votes in Salt Lake County. According to at least one study, some extra financial help from the Republican Party might have helped Swallow defeat Matheson.[5]

Over the next two years, Matheson worked his new, mostly rural district well. It paid off in 2004 when he defeated Swallow again--this time by a convincing 12-point margin even as Bush won the state handily. In 2006, he defeated State Representative LaVar Christensen by 22 points.

Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is fairly conservative by national party standards.[6]Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,[7] a moderate group of 44 Democrats in the House. Among other significant votes, Matheson voted against raising the federal debt limit; as well as against both Republican and Democratic budgets that do not reduce the deficit. Matheson, a former energy industry businessman, voted against authorizing the construction of new oil refineries. In March, 2007, Matheson was one of 14 Democrats who voted against a bill that would require President George W. Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq by September 1, 2008.

Matheson is facing the Republican challenger Bill Dew in the 2008 general election.

[edit] Electoral history

Utah's 2nd congressional district: Results 2000–2006[8]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2000 Jim Matheson 145,021 56% Derek W. Smith 107,114 41% Bruce Bangerter Independent American 4,704 2% Peter Pixton Libertarian 2,165 1% *
2002 Jim Matheson 110,764 49% John Swallow 109,123 49% Patrick Diehl Green 2,589 1% Ron Copier Libertarian 1,622 1%
2004 Jim Matheson 187,250 55% John Swallow 147,778 43% Jeremy P. Petersen Constitution 3,541 1% Patrick Diehl Green 2,189 1% *
2006 Jim Matheson 133,231 59% LaVar Christensen 84,234 37% W. David Perry Constitution 3,395 2% Bob Brister Green 3,338 1% *
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2000, Steven Alberts Voris received 597 votes. In 2004, Personal Choice Party candidate Ronald R. Amos received 1,210 votes. In 2006, Libertarian Party candidate Austin Sherwood Lett received 1,620 votes.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  2. ^ John McCormick. Scott M. Matheson. Utah History Encyclopedia. University of Utah Press. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  3. ^ Bob Bernick Jr.. "Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep'", Deseret Morning News, 2004-11-04. Retrieved on 2006-11-09. 
  4. ^ Jerry Spangler. "Mormon Democrats link up in Congress", Deseret Morning News, 2005-01-31. Retrieved on 2006-11-09. 
  5. ^ http://csed.byu.edu/Assets/Pew/2002%20Monograph.pdf
  6. ^ Bob Bernick Jr.. "Matheson far enough to the right for Utahns", Deseret Morning News, 2006-08-31. Retrieved on 2006-11-09. 
  7. ^ Bob Bernick Jr.. "Frugal Matheson walks to own beat", Deseret Morning News, 2006-10-29. Retrieved on 2006-11-09. 
  8. ^ Election Statistics. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Merrill Cook		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd congressional district
2001–Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
v • d • e
Utah's current delegation to the United States Congress
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Rob Bishop (R), Jim Matheson (D), Chris Cannon (R)
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