Sen. Hatch Faces Challenger in Utah Primary

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will face a challenger recruited by the tea party in this year’s primary -- state Sen. Dan Liljenquist. The 37-year-old attorney and business consultant announced his decision Wednesday, The Hill reports.

Liljenquist was recruited by tea party groups. “We are very pleased to see a dedicated and proven conservative like Dan Liljenquist step up and challenge the status quo in Utah," said Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks, a national tea party group that has taken aim at Hatch. "His record in the state Senate shows clearly that Liljenquist has the ability to produce innovative solutions to budget woes, and to effectively turn those ideas into action and real legislative change."

Liljenquist said in his announcement video that he will focus on budget issues, The Hill reports. Hatch is conservative on social policy but has worked with Democrats on economic issues.