Huntsman easily re-elected Utah governor

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Jon Huntsman was re-elected governor of Utah Tuesday, keeping alive a nearly 30-year string of Republicans holding the office.

Huntsman fended off Democrat Bob Springmeyer, a management consultant and political neophyte who selected Jose Valdez, the first minority to join a major party ticket in Utah, as his lieutenant governor.

The Salt Lake Tribune said Huntsman built up some huge leads in the polls during the race, which enabled him to run a middle-of-the-road campaign.

Huntsman was first elected governor in 2004 and was a member of the Reagan administration. His Web site notes that he speaks Chinese.