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Jim Matheson Puts Family Over Party, Won't Attend Democratic National Convention

Matheson For congress

Utah’s lone Democratic Congressman, Jim Matheson is not participating in his party’s national convention this week.

Last week Matheson’s opponent, Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love spoke at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, but Congressman Matheson will be home this week when his party meets in Charlotte to nominate Barack Obama and Joe Biden for re-election. Matheson says it’s more important for him to stay in Utah.

"I’ve never gone to a convention," he says. "I’m sure it’s a fine party, but there’s nothing of substance that’s going to take place, we all know what’s going to happen at the convention. My family lives here and I commute back and forth to DC and I prefer to be with my kids. I’ve got younger kids at home and I think that’s my priority and I make no apologies about it at all. I think that’s the right priority to have." 

Both national Republican and Democratic organizations continue to pour money into this race for Utah fourth congressional district seat. A recent Deseret News/KSL Poll puts Matheson ahead of Love, by15 points, but that was taken before Mia Love’s speech at the RNC last week.

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