Voters made themselves clear in two out of Utah's three congressional races, but the contest between Democrat incumbent Jim Matheson and Republican challenger John Swallow remained neck and neck as election totals came in Tuesday night Nov 5.

Republicans Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop won handily, but as of midnight the second district race remained too close to call.

With 79 percent of precincts reporting, Jim Matheson had tallied 79,105 votes to 76,359 for Swallow.

"I am fighting and still looking to win this race," Matheson said. "Let's stick with this, let's not give up, we are going to pull this through."

In the third district, incumbent Chris Cannon won easily by a margin of 67 percent to 30 percent for Democrat Nancy Jane Woodside.

In a change of plans, Woodside did not join the other Democratic candidates at their headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Cannon said he was excited to work with Bishop and hoped he would also be working with Swallow.

"It's time for Utah to pull together and get the things America needs done and Utah needs done," Cannon said.

Cannon will now stay on for a fourth term and become the senior member of Utah's delegation as 11-term Representative Jim Hansen steps down.

Initiative 1, also known as the Radioactive Waste Restrictions Act, was defeated by a margin of 69 percent to 31 percent, with 1,213 of 1892 precincts reporting.

Those in favor of the initiative said the initiative would raise taxes on radioactive waste and increase funding for schools. Those against the proposal said the tax targeted a specific company and was too complicated.

In the first district open-seat race, Bishop beat out his Democrat opponent Dave Thomas. Bishop received 61 percent of the votes and Thomas 37 percent.

"We took a good message to the voters of Utah," said Thomas, later fighting off tears. "I would not change anything I have done. I would run again."

Bishop's win keeps control of the seat held by Jim Hansen for 22 years.

"It's hard to give it up, but it is a great thrill to pass the baton on to Rob Bishop," Hansen said.

Bishop, a high school teacher for 28 years, often said in his campaign that handling teenagers in the classroom prepared him for serving in Congress.

"When I go back to Washington, I'm going to be myself," Bishop said. "I'm not going to change."



Copyright Brigham Young University 6 Nov 2002