James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the
U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the
Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting. Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator
Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from
Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his
M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. His father,
Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985, and his brother,
Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor. Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition, a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the
HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the
New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the
U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the
Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.
Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator
Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from
Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his
M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
His father,
Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,
and his brother,
Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.
Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,
a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the
HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the
New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the
U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the
Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.
Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator
Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from
Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his
M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
His father,
Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,
and his brother,
Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.
Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,
a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the
HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the
New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
[ http://www.votesmart.org On November 3, Matheson voted against requiring public disclosure of bonuses and golden parachute arrangements (agreements between a company and an employee specifying that the employee will receive significant benefits if they are terminated). This was a bill that the Democrats heavily supported, and the Republicans were opposed to .Only five other Democrats voted against the bill. ][ http://www.votesmart.org]
Matheson voted against raising the federal debt limit, as well as against both Republican and Democratic budgets that did 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. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to bring combat troops home from IraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
by September 1, 2008. Matheson has always voted conservative in regards to the wars in the middle east, he voted in favor of using military force against Iraq in 2003, voted against removing troops from Libya in 2011, and against removing troops from Pakistan in 2010. He did however, vote in favor of requiring a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, after opposing the bill in two previous votes. Matheson leans pro-lifeOpposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
but supports expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. He was rated 55% from National Right to Life CommitteeThe National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. The group works through legislation and education to work against abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted...
indicating a mixed record on abortion and 30% from NARAL indicating a pro-life voting record. However, Matheson's NARAL Pro-Choice America rating dropped to 0% in 2010, while he garnered a 50% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. [ http://www.votesmart.org]
Mateson has been a strong supporter of regulating Wall Street, voting in favor of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the strongest set of Wall Street reforms since the 1930's. In a comment on this legislation, Matheson stated, "Nearly two years ago the subprime mortgage meltdown triggered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. We've been living under the same set of rules that were in place before the financial crisis sparked the job-killing recession. Now, that is about to change." [ http://www.votesmart.org Matheson is also opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act, believing that education is a local issue and federal funds should come with minimal strings attached. Matheson also believes that the “Highly Qualified Teacher” requirements should be more flexible, and that states should have alternative options to the single standardized test used in No Child Left Behind. ][ http://matheson.house.gov]
In November 2009, during intense debates over American health care reformHealth care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
, Matheson voted against the Affordable Health Care for America ActThe Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
.The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, which passed the House 219-212.
However, when the 112th CongressThe One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
reconsidered the legislation in January 2011, Matheson voted against repealing the healthcare overhaul.
In July 2011, Matheson was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.
Committee assignments
Congressman Matheson sits on these committees and subcommittees in the 111th CongressThe One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Subcommittee on Health
2000
In 2000, Matheson was tapped to run for the 2nd District seat. The Democrats were optimistic in part because the 2nd District has historically been friendlier to Democrats than the rest of Utah and in part because two-term incumbent Merrill Cook Merrill Cook was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.Cook, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in 1964 and the University...
had a reputation for erratic behavior.
2002
During the 2000s round of redistricting, the Republican-controlled state legislature significantly alteredIn the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
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 friendlier to Democrats (at least at the state and local level) 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 heavily Republican Utah County. In addition, the legislature shifted most of western Salt Lake City to the 1st, leaving the more conservative eastern part of the city in the 2nd. The new district was approximately six points more Republican than its predecessor. 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 SwallowJohn Swallow is an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran against Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004....
by only 1,600 votes, largely due to a 25,800-vote margin over Swallow in Salt Lake County.[http://csed.byu.edu/Assets/Pew/2002%20Monograph.pdf]
2004
Matheson defeated Swallow again—this time by a 12-point margin even as Bush won the state by a large margin (and carried the district with 67 percent of the vote).
2006
Matheson defeated State Representative LaVar ChristensenLaVar Christensen is a American politician from Utah, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district...
by 22 points.
2008
Matheson defeated Republican challenger Bill DewBill Dew was a home construction contractor and the Republican challenger in Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2008. Dew received the Republican nomination, but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. Dew got 35% of the vote....
in the 2008 general election by 28 points.
2010
Matheson won against Republican nominee Morgan PhilpotJ. Morgan Philpot is a former state representative for District 45 in the heart of Salt Lake County, and the 2010 Republican nominee for . He is a former vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party.- Biography :...
. In May, Matheson faced his first challenge from within his party. Claudia Wright claimed that Jim Matheson was not liberal enough and obtained 45% of the vote at the Democratic State Convention, forcing a primary for the Democratic nomination. After weeks of campaigning Matheson secured the Democratic nomination, by obtaining 67.5% of the vote.
Electoral history
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting. Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985, and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor. Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition, a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Two Utah Political Heavyweights Eyeing Key Races |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705374250/Two-Utah-political-heavyweights-eyeing-key-races.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-09 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}] Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Poll: Time for Senator Hatch To Go |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700145325/Poll-Time-for-Senator-Orrin-Hatch-to-go.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-18 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}]
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.[{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/matheson/bio.shtml |title=Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography |accessdate=2006-11-09}}] His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,[{{cite web |url=http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MATHESON%2CSCOTT.html |title=Scott M. Matheson |accessdate=2006-11-09 |author=John McCormick |work=Utah History Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Utah Press }}] and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep' |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595102960,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[{{cite news |author=Jerry Spangler |title=Mormon Democrats link up in Congress |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600108572,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}]
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Frugal Matheson walks to own beat |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650202661,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Two Utah Political Heavyweights Eyeing Key Races |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705374250/Two-Utah-political-heavyweights-eyeing-key-races.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-09 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}] Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Poll: Time for Senator Hatch To Go |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700145325/Poll-Time-for-Senator-Orrin-Hatch-to-go.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-18 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}]
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.[{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/matheson/bio.shtml |title=Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography |accessdate=2006-11-09}}] His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,[{{cite web |url=http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MATHESON%2CSCOTT.html |title=Scott M. Matheson |accessdate=2006-11-09 |author=John McCormick |work=Utah History Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Utah Press }}] and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep' |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595102960,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[{{cite news |author=Jerry Spangler |title=Mormon Democrats link up in Congress |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600108572,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}]
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Frugal Matheson walks to own beat |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650202661,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%. [ http://www.votesmart.org On November 3, Matheson voted against requiring public disclosure of bonuses and golden parachute arrangements (agreements between a company and an employee specifying that the employee will receive significant benefits if they are terminated). This was a bill that the Democrats heavily supported, and the Republicans were opposed to .Only five other Democrats voted against the bill. ][ http://www.votesmart.org]
Matheson voted against raising the federal debt limit, as well as against both Republican and Democratic budgets that did not reduce the deficit.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Matheson, a former energy industry businessman, voted against authorizing the construction of new oil refineries.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} In March, 2007, Matheson was one of 14 Democrats who voted against a bill that would require President George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to bring combat troops home from IraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
by September 1, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Matheson has always voted conservative in regards to the wars in the middle east, he voted in favor of using military force against Iraq in 2003, voted against removing troops from Libya in 2011, and against removing troops from Pakistan in 2010. He did however, vote in favor of requiring a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, after opposing the bill in two previous votes. Matheson leans pro-lifeOpposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
but supports expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. He was rated 55% from National Right to Life CommitteeThe National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. The group works through legislation and education to work against abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted...
indicating a mixed record on abortion and 30% from NARAL indicating a pro-life voting record.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} However, Matheson's NARAL Pro-Choice America rating dropped to 0% in 2010, while he garnered a 50% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. [ http://www.votesmart.org]
Mateson has been a strong supporter of regulating Wall Street, voting in favor of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the strongest set of Wall Street reforms since the 1930's. In a comment on this legislation, Matheson stated, "Nearly two years ago the subprime mortgage meltdown triggered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. We've been living under the same set of rules that were in place before the financial crisis sparked the job-killing recession. Now, that is about to change." [ http://www.votesmart.org Matheson is also opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act, believing that education is a local issue and federal funds should come with minimal strings attached. Matheson also believes that the “Highly Qualified Teacher” requirements should be more flexible, and that states should have alternative options to the single standardized test used in No Child Left Behind. ][ http://matheson.house.gov]
In November 2009, during intense debates over American health care reformHealth care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
, Matheson voted against the Affordable Health Care for America ActThe Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
.[{{cite web | title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 398 | date=October 24, 2001 | publisher=United States House of Representatives]The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
| url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml | accessdate=2010-03-29}}{{failed verification|date=March 2010}} In March 2010, he was one of 34 Democrats to vote against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, which passed the House 219-212.[{{cite news | title=Health care reform: How House members voted | work=CNN]Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
| date=March 2010 | url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2010/03/politics/health.care.votes.final/index.5.html | accessdate=2010-03-29}}
However, when the 112th CongressThe One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
reconsidered the legislation in January 2011, Matheson voted against repealing the healthcare overhaul.[{{cite news| url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/house/1/votes/14/?hpid=artslot | work=The Washington Post}}]
In July 2011, Matheson was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.[{{cite web|last=Berman|first=Russell|title=Five Blue Dogs join GOP in vote for 'cut, cap and balance' bill|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/172441-five-blue-dogs-join-gop-in-vote-for-cut-cap-and-balance-bill|publisher=The Hill]The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
|accessdate=21 July 2011|date=19 July 2011}}
Committee assignments
Congressman Matheson sits on these committees and subcommittees in the 111th CongressThe One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Subcommittee on Health
2000
In 2000, Matheson was tapped to run for the 2nd District seat. The Democrats were optimistic in part because the 2nd District has historically been friendlier to Democrats than the rest of Utah and in part because two-term incumbent Merrill Cook Merrill Cook was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.Cook, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in 1964 and the University...
had a reputation for erratic behavior.[{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e2173.htm | work=USA Today | title=Smith upsets incumbent Cook | date=2000-06-28}}] 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 comfortably, taking 56 percent of the vote even as George W. Bush won the district with 57% of the vote.
2002
During the 2000s round of redistricting, the Republican-controlled state legislature significantly alteredIn the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
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 friendlier to Democrats (at least at the state and local level) 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 heavily Republican Utah County. In addition, the legislature shifted most of western Salt Lake City to the 1st, leaving the more conservative eastern part of the city in the 2nd. The new district was approximately six points more Republican than its predecessor. 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 SwallowJohn Swallow is an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran against Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004....
by only 1,600 votes, largely due to a 25,800-vote margin over Swallow in Salt Lake County.[{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2002/pages/states/UT/H/02/county.000.html |title=Election 2002 - County Results: Utah House 02 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=2010-07-12}}] According to at least one study, some extra financial help from the Republican Party might have helped Swallow defeat Matheson.[http://csed.byu.edu/Assets/Pew/2002%20Monograph.pdf]
2004
Matheson defeated Swallow again—this time by a 12-point margin even as Bush won the state by a large margin (and carried the district with 67 percent of the vote).
2006
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2006#Second District}}
Matheson defeated State Representative LaVar ChristensenLaVar Christensen is a American politician from Utah, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district...
by 22 points.
2008
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2008#District 2}}
Matheson defeated Republican challenger Bill DewBill Dew was a home construction contractor and the Republican challenger in Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2008. Dew received the Republican nomination, but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. Dew got 35% of the vote....
in the 2008 general election by 28 points.
2010
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2010#District 2}}
Matheson won against Republican nominee Morgan PhilpotJ. Morgan Philpot is a former state representative for District 45 in the heart of Salt Lake County, and the 2010 Republican nominee for . He is a former vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party.- Biography :...
. In May, Matheson faced his first challenge from within his party. Claudia Wright claimed that Jim Matheson was not liberal enough and obtained 45% of the vote at the Democratic State Convention, forcing a primary for the Democratic nomination. After weeks of campaigning Matheson secured the Democratic nomination, by obtaining 67.5% of the vote.
Electoral history
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting. Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985, and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor. Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition, a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Two Utah Political Heavyweights Eyeing Key Races |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705374250/Two-Utah-political-heavyweights-eyeing-key-races.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-09 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}] Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Poll: Time for Senator Hatch To Go |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700145325/Poll-Time-for-Senator-Orrin-Hatch-to-go.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-18 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}]
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.[{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/matheson/bio.shtml |title=Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography |accessdate=2006-11-09}}] His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,[{{cite web |url=http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MATHESON%2CSCOTT.html |title=Scott M. Matheson |accessdate=2006-11-09 |author=John McCormick |work=Utah History Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Utah Press }}] and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep' |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595102960,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[{{cite news |author=Jerry Spangler |title=Mormon Democrats link up in Congress |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600108572,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}]
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Frugal Matheson walks to own beat |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650202661,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%.
{{For|the journalist|Jim Matheson (journalist)}}
James David "Jim" Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is the U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for {{ushr|UT|2}}, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City.
Matheson has said he is considering a run for statewide office in 2012, particularly if his seat is substantially changed in redistricting.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Two Utah Political Heavyweights Eyeing Key Races |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705374250/Two-Utah-political-heavyweights-eyeing-key-races.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-09 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}] Polling conducted in July 2011 showed Matheson leading incumbent Republican Senator Orrin HatchOrrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
in a possible 2012 Senate race.[{{cite news |author=Lisa Riley Roche |title=Poll: Time for Senator Hatch To Go |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700145325/Poll-Time-for-Senator-Orrin-Hatch-to-go.html |work=Deseret News |publisher= |date=2011-06-18 |accessdate=2011-06-27 }}]
Early life, education and career
Matheson was born in Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, and obtained an A.B. from Harvard CollegeHarvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and his M.B.A.The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.[{{cite web |url=http://www.house.gov/matheson/bio.shtml |title=Congressman Jim Matheson — Biography |accessdate=2006-11-09}}] His father, Scott M. Matheson-External links:* from...
, served as Governor of Utah from 1977 to 1985,[{{cite web |url=http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MATHESON%2CSCOTT.html |title=Scott M. Matheson |accessdate=2006-11-09 |author=John McCormick |work=Utah History Encyclopedia |publisher=University of Utah Press }}] and his brother, Scott Matheson, Jr.Scott Milne Matheson, Jr. was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah from 1993 to 1997 and is a current federal Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the son of former Governor of Utah Scott M...
, was the 2004 Democratic nominee for Governor.[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Only a few Democrats were able to survive Utah's GOP 'sweep' |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595102960,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] Matheson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[{{cite news |author=Jerry Spangler |title=Mormon Democrats link up in Congress |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600108572,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}]
Prior to entering politics, Matheson worked in the energy field, working for several different companies and studying environmental policy. He later started his own energy consulting firm.
U.S. House of Representatives
Matheson is co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition,[{{cite news |author=Bob Bernick Jr. |title=Frugal Matheson walks to own beat |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650202661,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-11-09 }}] a conservative group of 25 Democrats in the HouseThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He also is a member of the New Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
.
Like most Utah Democrats, Matheson is relatively conservative by national party standards. In fact, in the National Journal ratings in 2010, Matheson earned a higher conservative score 51%, then his liberal score of 49%. [ http://www.votesmart.org On November 3, Matheson voted against requiring public disclosure of bonuses and golden parachute arrangements (agreements between a company and an employee specifying that the employee will receive significant benefits if they are terminated). This was a bill that the Democrats heavily supported, and the Republicans were opposed to .Only five other Democrats voted against the bill. ][ http://www.votesmart.org]
Matheson voted against raising the federal debt limit, as well as against both Republican and Democratic budgets that did not reduce the deficit.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Matheson, a former energy industry businessman, voted against authorizing the construction of new oil refineries.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} In March, 2007, Matheson was one of 14 Democrats who voted against a bill that would require President George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to bring combat troops home from IraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
by September 1, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Matheson has always voted conservative in regards to the wars in the middle east, he voted in favor of using military force against Iraq in 2003, voted against removing troops from Libya in 2011, and against removing troops from Pakistan in 2010. He did however, vote in favor of requiring a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, after opposing the bill in two previous votes. Matheson leans pro-lifeOpposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
but supports expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. He was rated 55% from National Right to Life CommitteeThe National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. The group works through legislation and education to work against abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted...
indicating a mixed record on abortion and 30% from NARAL indicating a pro-life voting record.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} However, Matheson's NARAL Pro-Choice America rating dropped to 0% in 2010, while he garnered a 50% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. [ http://www.votesmart.org]
Mateson has been a strong supporter of regulating Wall Street, voting in favor of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the strongest set of Wall Street reforms since the 1930's. In a comment on this legislation, Matheson stated, "Nearly two years ago the subprime mortgage meltdown triggered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. We've been living under the same set of rules that were in place before the financial crisis sparked the job-killing recession. Now, that is about to change." [ http://www.votesmart.org Matheson is also opposed to the No Child Left Behind Act, believing that education is a local issue and federal funds should come with minimal strings attached. Matheson also believes that the “Highly Qualified Teacher” requirements should be more flexible, and that states should have alternative options to the single standardized test used in No Child Left Behind. ][ http://matheson.house.gov]
In November 2009, during intense debates over American health care reformHealth care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
, Matheson voted against the Affordable Health Care for America ActThe Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
.[{{cite web | title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 398 | date=October 24, 2001 | publisher=United States House of Representatives]The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
| url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml | accessdate=2010-03-29}}{{failed verification|date=March 2010}} In March 2010, he was one of 34 Democrats to vote against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, which passed the House 219-212.[{{cite news | title=Health care reform: How House members voted | work=CNN]Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
| date=March 2010 | url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2010/03/politics/health.care.votes.final/index.5.html | accessdate=2010-03-29}}
However, when the 112th CongressThe One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
reconsidered the legislation in January 2011, Matheson voted against repealing the healthcare overhaul.[{{cite news| url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/house/1/votes/14/?hpid=artslot | work=The Washington Post}}]
In July 2011, Matheson was one of five Democrats to vote for the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.[{{cite web|last=Berman|first=Russell|title=Five Blue Dogs join GOP in vote for 'cut, cap and balance' bill|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/172441-five-blue-dogs-join-gop-in-vote-for-cut-cap-and-balance-bill|publisher=The Hill]The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
|accessdate=21 July 2011|date=19 July 2011}}
Committee assignments
Congressman Matheson sits on these committees and subcommittees in the 111th CongressThe One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Subcommittee on Health
2000
In 2000, Matheson was tapped to run for the 2nd District seat. The Democrats were optimistic in part because the 2nd District has historically been friendlier to Democrats than the rest of Utah and in part because two-term incumbent Merrill Cook Merrill Cook was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.Cook, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in 1964 and the University...
had a reputation for erratic behavior.[{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e2173.htm | work=USA Today | title=Smith upsets incumbent Cook | date=2000-06-28}}] 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 comfortably, taking 56 percent of the vote even as George W. Bush won the district with 57% of the vote.
2002
During the 2000s round of redistricting, the Republican-controlled state legislature significantly alteredIn the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
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 friendlier to Democrats (at least at the state and local level) 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 heavily Republican Utah County. In addition, the legislature shifted most of western Salt Lake City to the 1st, leaving the more conservative eastern part of the city in the 2nd. The new district was approximately six points more Republican than its predecessor. 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 SwallowJohn Swallow is an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran against Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004....
by only 1,600 votes, largely due to a 25,800-vote margin over Swallow in Salt Lake County.[{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2002/pages/states/UT/H/02/county.000.html |title=Election 2002 - County Results: Utah House 02 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=2010-07-12}}] According to at least one study, some extra financial help from the Republican Party might have helped Swallow defeat Matheson.[http://csed.byu.edu/Assets/Pew/2002%20Monograph.pdf]
2004
Matheson defeated Swallow again—this time by a 12-point margin even as Bush won the state by a large margin (and carried the district with 67 percent of the vote).
2006
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2006#Second District}}
Matheson defeated State Representative LaVar ChristensenLaVar Christensen is a American politician from Utah, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district...
by 22 points.
2008
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2008#District 2}}
Matheson defeated Republican challenger Bill DewBill Dew was a home construction contractor and the Republican challenger in Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2008. Dew received the Republican nomination, but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. Dew got 35% of the vote....
in the 2008 general election by 28 points.
2010
{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Utah, 2010#District 2}}
Matheson won against Republican nominee Morgan PhilpotJ. Morgan Philpot is a former state representative for District 45 in the heart of Salt Lake County, and the 2010 Republican nominee for . He is a former vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party.- Biography :...
. In May, Matheson faced his first challenge from within his party. Claudia Wright claimed that Jim Matheson was not liberal enough and obtained 45% of the vote at the Democratic State Convention, forcing a primary for the Democratic nomination. After weeks of campaigning Matheson secured the Democratic nomination, by obtaining 67.5% of the vote.
Electoral history
{{ushr|Utah|2|}
}: Results 2000–2008
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2000
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Jim Matheson}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |145,021
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |56%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Derek W. Smith}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |107,114
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |41%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Bruce Bangerter
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Independent American
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |4,704
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Peter Pixton
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |LibertarianThe Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2,165
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1%
| |*
|-
|2002
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jim Matheson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |110,764
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |John SwallowJohn Swallow is an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran against Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004....
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |109,123
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |49%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |Patrick Diehl
|{{Party shading/Green}} |GreenThe Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |2,589
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |1%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Ron Copier
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |LibertarianThe Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1,622
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1%
|
|-
|2004
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jim Matheson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |187,250
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |55%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |John SwallowJohn Swallow is an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the Utah State House of Representatives and unsuccessfully ran against Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004....
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |147,778
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |43%
|
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |{{nowrap|Jeremy P.}} Petersen
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |ConstitutionThe Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |3,541
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |1%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |Patrick Diehl
|{{Party shading/Green}} |GreenThe Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |2,189
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |1%
| |*
|-
|2006
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jim Matheson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |133,231
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |59%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|LaVar ChristensenLaVar Christensen is a American politician from Utah, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district...
}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |84,234
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |37%
|
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |W. David Perry
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |ConstitutionThe Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |3,395
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |2%
|
|{{Party shading/Green}} |Bob Brister
|{{Party shading/Green}} |GreenThe Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |3,338
|{{Party shading/Green}} align="right" |1%
| |*
|-
|2008
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jim Matheson
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" | 204,268
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |63%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bill DewBill Dew was a home construction contractor and the Republican challenger in Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2008. Dew received the Republican nomination, but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent Jim Matheson. Dew got 35% of the vote....
}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |111,696
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |35%
|
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |Dennis Ray Emery
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |ConstitutionThe Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |2,731
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |1%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Mathew Arndt
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |LibertarianThe Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |4,171
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |1%
| |*
|-
|2010
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Jim Matheson}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |116,404
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |50.67%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Morgan PhilpotJ. Morgan Philpot is a former state representative for District 45 in the heart of Salt Lake County, and the 2010 Republican nominee for . He is a former vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party.- Biography :...
}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |105,514
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |45.98%
|
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |{{nowrap|Randall Hinton}}
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |Constitution
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} align="right" |4,122
|{{Party shading/ConstitutionUSA}} |1.79%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |David Glissmeyer
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |IndependentIn politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,143
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |0.93%
| |*
{{S-end}}
External links
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{USRepSuccessionBox |
state=Utah|
district=2 |
before=Merrill Cook Merrill Cook was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.Cook, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in 1964 and the University...
|
start=2001}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Betty McCollumBetty Louise McCollum is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ....
D-MinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States Representatives by seniority|years=181st}}
{{s-aft|after=Mike PenceMichael Richard "Mike" Pence is the U.S. Representative for Indiana's , and previously the , serving since 2001. The 6th district covers much of Eastern Indiana. He is a member of the Republican Party....
R-IndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
}}
{{S-end}}
{{UT-FedRep}}
{{UtahUSRepresenatives}}
{{USHouseLeaders}}
{{Persondata
| NAME = Matheson, Jim
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = United States Congressman from Utah
| DATE OF BIRTH = March 21, 1960
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Salt Lake City, UtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matheson, Jim}}