Utah Republican says he's happy he lost primary
By BROCK VERGAKIS – 1 hour ago

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, a conservative Republican who lost his primary to an opponent who accused him of not being conservative enough, said Wednesday that his defeat frees him to move on to pursue other opportunities.

Jason Chaffetz won Tuesday's primary with 60 percent of the vote. Fewer than 10 percent of the eligible voters cast ballots, according to state election officials.

"I'm actually pretty happy about last night's results," Cannon told The Associated Press. "I think I'll be able to do many of the things I would ordinarily do in Congress on the outside without having to suffer the sort of difficulties that come with that job."

He didn't go into specifics, but said he wanted to stay involved in Utah politics.

It was the third consecutive time Cannon had been forced into a primary after failing to win his party's nomination during state conventions. Chaffetz and Cannon's previous opponents had all campaigned on the theme that Cannon isn't conservative enough to represent the 3rd District, one of the nation's most Republican districts.

The lobbying group American Conservative Union said Cannon was nearly perfect on its issues in 2007, scoring 96 percent. But Chaffetz repeatedly pounded the incumbent, especially on immigration, and pledged to be even more conservative.

Chaffetz, former chief of staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman, will face Democrat Bennion Spencer, a former television reporter, in the November general election.

Cannon said low turnout coupled with a general disdain for Republican leadership cost him the election in the district that primarily covers Salt Lake City's southwest suburbs.

He said that while he's glad he won't serve a seventh term, he had felt he owed it to his constituents to run for re-election this year.

Cannon said he's withholding his support from Chaffetz for the immediate future.

"I guess I need to get to know Chaffetz a little bit. I don't know enough about him to make a commitment," Cannon said.
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