Utah Republicans reject sending Bennett back to Senate

Utah Sen. Bob Bennett is now officially the first congressional casualty of the 2010 midterm elections.

After surviving a first round of balloting that culled the field from eight to three contenders, Bennett was defeated by businessman Tim Bridgewater, with 37.42%, and attorney Mike Lee, with 35.99% of the support of delegates at the state GOP convention in Salt Lake City.

Bennett finished third — and out of the running — with 26.59%. Bridgewater and Lee moved onto a third and final round of balloting, vying for the 60% of delegate support needed to win nomination outright. Failing that, it’s onto a June 22 runoff, to be decided by GOP voters statewide.

As the Ticket reported, Bennett had expected a tough fight for reelection.

-- Mark Z. Barabak

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