Orrin Hatch on convention results: ‘I consider it a tremendous victory’

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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Sen. Orrin Hatch will face a June 26 primary election challenge against Republican Dan Liljenquist.

Hatch failed to secure 60 percent of the delegates needed at the Utah Republican Convention to avoid the primary. During the first ballot, Hatch got just over 57 percent of the vote — and on the second ballot,  just over 59 percent.

Still, Hatch was in good spirits when he spoke to press after the balloting, saying he was “elated” and that, “I feel good about it…I consider it a tremendous victory.”

Hatch also refused to comment on whether it would be harder to win a primary than a convention fight.

Matt K. Lewis