Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Mapleton) went down to a landslide defeat in last night’s Utah Republican primary, making him the third House incumbent to be denied re-nomination during this election cycle. The other two were Maryland Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville) and Albert Wynn (D-Mitchellville) back on February 12^th. With more than 80% of the vote counted, Cannon trailed GOP challenger Jason Chaffetz 60 -40% .

This is the second consecutive election in which the conservative Cannon drew serious primary competition from his political right. He was repeatedly seen as the region’s pro-amnesty voice for illegal immigration because of his vocal support for the original Kennedy-McCain Immigration bill that was soundly defeated and, for a time, sent John McCain’s presidential campaign reeling into a downward spiral. That legislation would have created a system to grant undocumented workers legal status after they successfully completed a qualifying process. Polls consistently showed that the amnesty idea was an anathema to Utah voters, particularly those in the 3^rd district.

Cannon, a practicing Mormon, had a secondary problem, too. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints strongly backs the idea of limiting service in positions of influence, whether within the Church or on the outside. Most people serve no more than 10 years in any one position. Cannon, originally elected in 1996, has already served twelve years in the House and was running for a seventh two-year term. Indirectly, he became a victim of a term-limit mind set.

Jason Chaffetz (pronounced Chay-fits) is a former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman and BYU football player. He ran decidedly to the right of Cannon and brilliantly made himself symbolize the frustration that many conservative voters feel toward Washington. He portrayed Cannon as a paradigm of the country’s current problems – “a $9 trillion deficit, millions of illegals, $4 dollar per gallon gas prices, and a do-nothing Congress”, according to Chaffetz’s final radio ad blitz. Local radio talk show host Bob Lonsberry of station KNRS 570 in Salt Lake City summed up the race in the following manner, while endorsing Chaffetz:

“If Chris Cannon is re-elected, it won't be a bad thing. But it will be the same thing. And maybe we've had enough of that. Maybe the race in the Third District

of Utah is not for control of the country, maybe it's for control of the party. On Tuesday, Republican primary voters in the Third District will choose between six-

term incumbent Chris Cannon and newcomer Jason Chaffetz. One is a plodding wonk, the other is a passionate believer." It was this wide-spread train of thought that made the climate ripe for tossing out a long-serving incumbent.

The 3^rd congressional district of Utah is one of the safest Republican districts in the nation. Chaffetz will easily defeat Democrat Bennion Spencer , a TV journalist and college professor in the general election. Chalk this up to being a frustration defeat for Chris Cannon, and it is likely that he is not the last incumbent who will fall to the voters desire for a change of direction this year.