Jim Matheson
James David Matheson (born March 21, 1960) is an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Utah from 2001 to 2015. He represented Utah's 2nd district from 2001 to 2013 and its 4th district from 2013 to 2015 as a member of the Democratic Party. While in office, he was Utah's only congressional Democrat, and his district was one of the most Republican-leaning districts to be represented by a Democrat.
Jim Matheson | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2009 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Merrill Cook |
| Succeeded by | Mia Love |
| Constituency | 2nd district (2001–2013) 4th district (2013–2015) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James David Matheson March 21, 1960 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Amy |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Scott M. Matheson Norma Warenski |
| Relatives | Scott Matheson Jr. (brother) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (MBA) |
On December 17, 2013, Matheson announced he would not seek reelection in the 2014 elections. There was speculation that Matheson, a moderate Democrat, might run in 2016 for Governor of Utah or for the Utah U.S. Senate seat coming open then, but this did not happen. In 2015, he joined the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs as a lobbyist. On June 13, 2016, he was named the CEO of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, a trade organization for rural electric cooperatives, and on July 19, 2016, he succeeded fellow former Representative Jo Ann Emerson as CEO.