A month ago, Irregular Times took note of progressive congressional candidate Claudia Wright, who is challenging incumbent Blue Dog Jim Matheson for the Democratic nomination to represent Utah’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House. On climate and many other issues, Wright has been willing to speak in favor of the values supported by Democratic voters, while Matheson has been busy supporting the Republican Party’s right wing agenda.
It seems that, even among Utah’s Democratic Party insiders, Claudia Wright’s progressive campaign has gained a great deal of support. In a vote among Democratic Party delegates yesterday, people normally inclined to support incumbents and oppose primary election challenges, Jim Matheson failed by 15 percent to prevent a political primary battle against Wright. In the vote, Wright got 45 percent support, a remarkable achievement within the heart of Matheson’s institutional base. If Wright could get 45 percent among that incumbent-friendly crowd, she stands a good chance of defeating Matheson for good in June’s primary.
Claudia Wright, a retired high school teacher of history, government, and civics is uniquely qualified and positioned to represent Utah’s 2nd congressional district in the US House. If any state needs a lesson in civics, it is Utah, and if anyone can give Utah that civics lesson without alienating people, it’s Claudia Wright. I’d love to see her oust Jim Matheson, whose voting record closely follows his corporate campaign contributions and who has a distinct disdain of mingling with his ordinary, less-affluent constituents. I can’t see Jim Matheson debating anyone, but I can very well see Claudia Wright successfully taking on the extreme right-wing constitutionalists also running for this seat.
If Claudia Wright and her 100% volunteer-run grassroots campaign can force Jim Matheson into a primary despite obstinate opposition from the Utah Democratic Party establishment and Matheson supporter Steny Hoyer (check out their mutual PAC contributions), they do have a good chance of defeating Matheson for good and of defeating the Republican nominee, extreme right-wing Republican Morgan Philpot.
Yet Claudia Wright still faces tremendous opposition from the nay-sayers in her own party who claim that only a Democrat who is really a Republican (i.e. Matheson) can win in this district. The Utah Democratic Party is still engaging in a defensive politics of cynicism while Claudia Wright’s campaign is running on an offensive politics of hope. The life and future of the Utah Democratic Party is at stake. Will Utah Democrats stand behind a corporate Democrat who really isn’t one because of fear of losing the seat? Or will Utah Democrats rally around Claudia Wright who inspires voters every time she speaks? A party of Nope or a party of Hope. That’s the precipice on which the Utah Democratic Party hangs today.