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By Kent Larsen
New Mormon Congressional Delegation Smaller, More Democratic
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Early election returns show that the Mormon
delgation in the US Congress is slightly smaller and slightly more
Democrat. But the remaining incumbents all won their races, giving
the congressional delegation a very familiar face.
As expected, the delegation lost one seat, due to the retirement of
California Republican Congressman Ron Packard. No Mormon candidate
ran for Packard's seat. Arizona incumbent Matt Salmon also decided
not to run, keeping a term-limit pledge, but in his case, LDS Church
member Jeff Flake won the Republican nomination, preserving that seat
for the delegation. In Utah, incumbent Merrill Cook is also out of
the race, loosing a primary fight with Internet businessman Derek
Smith, who has, in turn, lost to Democrat Jim Matheson. Both Smith
and Matheson are LDS Church members.
The other Mormons running were in many ways longshots. In Colorado,
Republican Jesse Thomas lost his bid for the seat of Diana DeGette in
Colorado's 1st district. Utah's Democratic challengers Kathleen
McConkie Collinwood, Scott Howell and Bill Orton, all lost their bids.
Meanwhile, US Senator Orrin Hatch, the only Mormon senator facing an
election this cycle, won handily, as did incumbent Utah Governor Mike
Leavitt.
The following is a complete list of the candidates and current office
holders we know about, along with their results, as of about 1 AM
this morning. Please let Mormon News know any additional information
about any Mormon candidates.
| American Samoa |
| Eni Faleomavaega | US House (non-voting) |
| Arizona |
| Open Seat | Jeff Flake | Republican | US House | Won w/53% of vote |
| Incumbent | Matt Salmon | Republican | US House | Retiring (Term Limit Pledge) |
| California |
| Incumbent | John Doolittle | Republican | US House | Won w/64% of vote |
| Incumbent | Wally Herger | Republican | US House | Won w/60% of vote |
| Incumbent | Buck McKeon | Republican | US House | Won w/67% of vote |
| Incumbent | Ron Packard | Republican | US House | Retiring |
| Colorado |
| Challenger | Jesse Thomas | Republican | US House | Lost w/28% of vote |
| Incumbent | Mark Udall | Democrat | US House | Won w/54% of vote |
| Idaho |
| Incumbent | Mike Simpson | Republican | US House | Won w/72% of vote |
| Incumbent | Mike Crapo | Republican | US Senate | Seat not up for election |
| New Mexico |
| Incumbent | Tom Udall | Democrat | US House | Won w/67% of vote |
| Nevada |
| Incumbent | Harry Reid | Democrat | US Senate | Seat not up for election |
| Oklahoma |
| Incumbent | Ernest Istook | Republican | US House | Won w/68% of vote |
| Oregon |
| Incumbent | Gordon Smith | Republican | US Senate | Seat not up for election |
| Utah |
| Incumbent | Jim Hansen | Republican | US House | Won w/69% of vote |
| Challenger | Kathleen McConkie Collinwood | Democrat | US House | Lost w/27% of vote |
| Incumbent | Merrill Cook | Republican | US House | Lost Primary |
| Challenger | Jim Matheson | Democrat | US House | Won w/53% of vote |
| Challenger | Derek Smith | Republican | US House | Lost w/45% of vote |
| Incumbent | Chris Cannon | Republican | US House | Won w/63% of vote |
| Incumbent | Robert Bennet | Republican | US Senate | Seat not up for election |
| Incumbent | Orrin Hatch | Republican | US Senate | Won w/72% of vote |
| Challenger | Scott Howell | Democrat | US Senate | Lost w/25% of vote |
| Incumbent | Mike Leavitt | Republican | Governor | Won w/60% of vote |
| Challenger | Bill Orton | Democrat | Governor | Lost w/38% of vote |
| Challenger | Jeremy Friedbaum | IAP | Governor | Lost w/2% of vote |
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