Six Term Conservative Senator Faces Primary Challenge

Orrin Hatch has been a Republican Senator from Utah for as long as I can remember. It is unusual for an incumbent senator to face a primary challenge in order to run for office. There are usually good reasons for this. Seniority is an important factor in determining a senator's role on important committees. A senior senator has more influence over decisions that might benefit the home state. Senator Hatch joins the long term incumbent senator from Arizona, John McCain who also faced a primary challenge. Both of these senators have impeccable conservative records but they are not conservative enough for the Tea Party. McCain won his primary, and Hatch will probably win his primary challenge, but the Tea Party will have served its purpose. It is driving the Republican party further to the right.

This article provides a good lead into the following post which is about the radicalization of the GOP.