Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) is first incumbent defeated in 2010

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) is a solid conservative Republican. But he is not a Kool-Aid drinking crazy, and that is just not good enough in today's Republican Party. This is not your father's GOP.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports Bennett is Out:

Sen. Bob Bennett was driven from office Saturday by anti-incumbency rage and hostility toward Washington, becoming the first victim of the rising discontent.

The three-term senator was bounced from office on the second round of balloting, failing to finish ahead of attorney Mike Lee and businessman Tim Bridgewater, who move on to the final round.

Bridgewater finished first in the second round of voting with 37 percent, Lee received 36 percent and Bennett got 27 percent, about the same percentage he received in round 1.

If neither Bridgewater nor Lee receives 60 percent of the delegate vote they will square off in a June primary.

Bennett becomes the first sitting Utah senator in seven decades to fail to get his party’s nomination.

The teabaggers have claimed their first victim from the Republican establishment.

Daily Kos speculates from a tweet that Sen. Bennett may run as a write-in candidate. I do not know whether this is possible under Utah law. Daily Kos: UT-Sen: Bennett Is Out:

The Green Papers reports Utah 2010 Midterm Election that there are two Democrats running for Senate, Samuel Frank "Sam" Granato, the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Chairman, and Christopher Paul "Chris" Stout. It's Utah folks, don't get excited.