Jon Huntsman was elected governor in 2004 with 56 percent of the vote against Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. Both candidates were equally recognizable to voters; their families are the closest things to royalty in Utah, but given a choice, Utah residents were more likely to pick a Republican for statewide office.

In 2008, Huntsman easily won re-election against Democratic challenger Bob Springmeyer with 78 percent of the vote.

Before and after the 2008 election, Huntsman has repeatedly pledged not to seek a third term.

(Last updated by Brock Vergakis on March 23, 2009.)

Bob Bennett was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992 with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Wayne Owens. He was re-elected in 1998, defeating Democrat Scott Leckman with 64 percent of the vote.

He was re-elected in 2004 with 68 percent of the vote.

Bennett had pledged to serve no more than two terms when he first ran for Senate, but changed his mind, saying that in Congress "seniority rules." He has already begun fundraising to run for office again in 2010.

(Last updated by Brock Vergakis in Salt Lake City on March 23, 2009.)

Orrin Hatch, then a political newcomer, captured 55 percent of the vote in 1976 to unseat Sen. Frank E. Moss, the last Democrat to represent Utah in the U.S. Senate. Hatch widened his margin to 58 percent in 1982, defeating Democrat Ted Wilson, then mayor of Salt Lake City.

In 1988, Hatch won 67 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Brian Moss, son of former Sen. Frank Moss. He was re-elected in 1994 with 69 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Pat Shea.

In 2000 he became Utah's second five-term senator, taking 68 percent of the vote against Utah Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell.

In 2006, Hatch easily defeated Democrat Peter Ashdown, the president of Internet service provider XMission, with 63 percent of the vote.

Hatch entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination in June 1999 but dropped out in January 2000.

(Last updated by Joan Lowy on March 27, 2009.)