Matheson targeted as 'vulnerable incumbent' in 2014

Matheson targeted as 'vulnerable incumbent' in 2014


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SALT LAKE CITY — Just months after winning re-election as Utah's only Democratic congressman, Rep. Jim Matheson has been targeted as a "vulnerable incumbent" in 2014.

Democrats are making an aggressive effort to control the House in 2014, which starts by protecting many of its already "vulnerable" members. On Tuesday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel named 26 Democratic incumbents to the "Frontline" program, which is a program designed to protect vulnerable incumbents in the 2014 election year.

"We call this program Frontline for a reason — these members are on the vanguard of protecting and expanding the middle class," Israel said in a prepared statement Tuesday morning. "These battle-tested men and women have proven time and again that they can win because no one better reflects the values of their districts.

Members targeted by the Frontline program:
  • Rep. Ron Barber, Arizona's 2nd District
  • Rep. John Barrow, Georgia's 12th District
  • Rep. Ami Bera, California's 7th District
  • Rep. Timothy H. Bishop, New York's 1st District
  • Rep. Julia Brownley, California's 26th District
  • Rep. Cheri Bustos, Illinois' 17th District
  • Rep. Lois Capps, California's 24th District
  • Rep. Suzan DelBene, Washington's 1st District
  • Rep. Bill Enyart, Illinois' 12th District
  • Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Connecticut's 5th District
  • Rep. Pete Gallego, Texas' 23rd District
  • Rep. Joe Garcia, Florida's 26th District
  • Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona's 1st District
  • Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire's 2nd District
  • Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, New York's 18th District
  • Rep. Dan Maffei, New York's 24th District
  • Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's 4th District
  • Rep. Mike McIntyre, North Carolina's 7th District
  • Rep. Patrick Murphy, Florida's 18th District
  • Rep. Bill Owens, New York's 21st District
  • Rep. Scott Peters, California's 52nd District
  • Rep. Raul Ruiz, California's 36th District
  • Rep. Brad Schneider, Illinois' 10th District
  • Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire's 1st District
  • Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona's 9th District
  • Rep. John F. Tierney, Massachusetts' 6th District

"While the 2014 campaign will be dominated by a strong offense taking on the Tea Party Republican Congress, our success begins with our members," Israel added.

Matheson, who staved off the Republican assault last November to Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love, said he is not solely focused on the 2014 election, but is focused on working for his constituents in Utah.

"I think in Washington people just look at data and see districts that vote a certain party way and they decide this is one where one party should win. That's just kinda based on numbers," Matheson said. "And so in Washington, lists get published all the time — a list who's a more targeted race or not. But for me, it's more important about knowing my voters back home in Utah.

"At the end of the day, in Utah, I think there is a relationship with voters — they just know who I am and what I'm about, where I can engage them in a conversation about that," Matheson added. "That's more important than anything else I can do in a campaign, and generally, that's what carries the campaign for me."

By naming the 26 vulnerable incumbents nearly a year and a half before the 2014 election, Democrats are looking to increase fundraising efforts. The effort begins with President Barack Obama who is expected to raise money for the House Democratic campaigns.


I'm not sure this is anything different than where I've been before, and it's nice to have attention from folks, but in the grand scheme of things, my campaigns are always my campaigns.

–Jim Matheson


Although fundraising efforts will be a major part of protecting vulnerable incumbents, Matheson said it doesn't change his style of campaigning.

"I'm not sure this is anything different than where I've been before, and it's nice to have attention from folks, but in the grand scheme of things, my campaigns are always my campaigns," he said. "I run them my own way out in Utah, and so lists back in (Washington D.C.) don't make a big difference for me."

Republicans currently have a 232-200 majority in the House, with three vacancies. There are currently 15 Democrats in seats that lean toward the Republican Party.

"I think it's really too early to predict what's going to happen in terms of races across the country in 2014, and if there's one party that has an advantage over the other," Matheson said. "Quite frankly, I'm always more focused on making sure what I'm doing back at home with my constituents than what's going on on those national numbers anyway."

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Josh Furlong

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