Matheson retired because he knew he would lose a 2014 rematch against Love (he only barely won in 2012, so it was clear that the jig was up). I don’t think that even Matheson believes that he could win a U.S. Senate election in Utah. The UT-04 is 5% less conservative and Republican than UT as a whole.
As for running for governor, I guess anything is possible, but it would take exigent circumstances for any Democrat (even Matheson) to be competitive in a gubernatorial election in UT.
it would take exigent circumstances for any Democrat (even Matheson) to be competitive in a gubernatorial election in UT.
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Why ???
Matheson’s own father was a Democrat gov in Utah ...
and his brother ran for gov but lost to Huntsman..
and there have been several others..
and during a time there was a higher percentage of Mormons than there is now..
Matheson comes from an important Mormon family ...
that counts for more in Utah than the political party..