2nd District Changes Could Mean Democratic Primary

None by KCPW

A Liberal Challenger to Matheson Likely With Guv's Map

(KCPW News) By lumping all of Salt Lake City, Park City and half of Salt Lake County into the second Congressional District, Governor Huntsman appears to be doing the Democratic Party a re-districting favor:

"I would assume it's quite a bit more Democratic than his current district," says Quin Monson, BYU political science professor and pollster for Utah elections.

Huntsman has devised a map adding a fourth district and re-aligning boundaries for the other three. Monson says if the map is adopted, 2nd District incumbent Jim Matheson could find himself in a new fight:

"That would open up a possibility of a primary challenge from the left of the party, a liberal Salt Lake City Democrat unhappy with Matheson's moderate stances," says Monson.

State Democratic Party officials say they are confident Matheson can keep his seat no matter how the lines are drawn. They reject Huntsman's map and say they want one that gives them a competitive hope in as many districts as possible.

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