You heard of RINOs but is Jim Matheson a DINO?

Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT) has not been voting with his fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives, voting against them 40% the time. (As of June 16th). Matheson, who represents the Fourth Congressional District in Utah pulled off an enourmous win for Democrats in the 2012 House General Elections, winning by only about 800 votes (0.3%), However it may not be a total win for the House Democrats. Matheson, who holds the most Republican-leaning district than any other Democrat in the house is voting against his party on many bills including important ones like the repealing of Obamacare. He has voted with the GOP on many minor bills as well. He is not a total DINO (Democrat in Name Only) though. He voted with his own party on the Violence against women act, Sandy relief bill, and the Ryan budget.

A term you often hear through around politics is RINO. (Republican in Name Only). A classic example of this is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Many tea party Republicans do not like him and think that he's too moderate and too liberal. Many think that he's not a real Republican, as he has many moderate policies. There has never really been a DINO, but Jim Matheson may be our nation's first.

Jim Matheson is only voting with the Republicans to get reelected. He is in a very conservative district in very conservative state, and in order to get reelected in 2014 keep getting reelected after that, he will need to side with the Republicans on some issues, even if that goes against what he believes in. Democrats may have thought about replacing him, but it is probably not a good idea. While he does not vote with them a lot, a Republican, especially a conservative Republican from Utah would not vote with them at all. With the House of Representatives currently narrowly controlled by the Republicans, and the Democrats try to take it over in 2014, or greatly narrow the margin, they need every vote that they can get and running someone other than Matheson would not be a good idea.


Link to Matheson's Website

Congressman Matheson's Congressional Portrait