SALT LAKE CITY -- Rep. Jim Matheson, the lone Democratic member of Utah's congressional delegation, has announced he won't challenge Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch in 2012.
The six-term congressman made the announcement in a statement posted to his campaign website Friday.
"There has been a great deal of speculation during the past several months about whether I will consider entering the U.S. Senate race," Matheson said. "After consulting with my family, I have made the decision that I will not run in next year's Senate election."
"I'm still considering my options and whatever race I choose, I will run an aggressive campaign. It is an honor and a privilege to serve Utahns in the U.S. Congress and my desire to give back to my state through public service is as strong as ever."
Matheson kept open the prospect of a bid for governor. He also may still run for the U.S. House in the redrawn 2nd Congressional District where he lives or in the newly created 4th Congressional District.
Matheson spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend said the congressman would not comment further.
Matheson met with Hatch on Friday morning to inform the six-term senator of his decision. Polls have shown Matheson would be a formidable challenger to both Hatch and Republican Gov. Gary Herbert.
Hatch campaign manager Dave Hansen welcomed Matheson's announcement.
"It's a good decision for the state of Utah and for him and his family," Hansen said. "While I'm confident we would have won a race against Congressman Matheson, it still would have been a challenging race."
State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis said the party will start a search for another challenger to Hatch.
"We're hunting. We're going to come up with somebody who is competitive. But I don't know who," he said, adding he hoped Matheson will run for governor.
Dabakis said he did not know the reason behind Matheson's decision, but suggested it could be because of Hatch's huge campaign war chest. Hatch reported having $4 million in cash on hand as of Sept. 30.
"To say money is not part of it would be not recognizing the facts," Dabakis said.
Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said Matheson's statement "leaves pregnant the question of why he didn't take governor off the table if he realizes a statewide race would just be a bridge too far."
A top tea party organization based in Washington, D.C., is searching for a Republican candidate to take on Hatch next year. FreedomWorks, chaired by former GOP House leader Dick Armey of Texas, launched its "Retire Orrin Hatch" campaign with a booth at the state GOP convention in June.
The group's search came after the candidate favored by FreedomWorks and some other national conservative groups, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced he would not run against Hatch.
FreedomWorks would like to see Hatch dismissed in the same fashion as longtime Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah. The group backed Mike Lee in his successful effort to unseat Bennett in 2010.
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