The voters have spoken. And Tuesday's Third District congressional race is a warning to incumbents everywhere.

June may seem like an odd time to vote, but there are a couple of tight races on the ballot in today's primary election, and a few votes could have a real impact on who represents you in crucial issues.

Rep. Chris Cannon has been defending himself all year against various accusations from the challenger within his own party, Jason Chaffetz, but the real issue is who can get the best results in Washington.

We invite readers to listen to the Daily Herald's conversations with Rep. Chris Cannon and his  challenger, Jason Chaffetz to get to know them better. The two are in a runoff for Utah's Third District seat in Congress.

CLICK TO VIEW the conversations, or click the related logo on the home page. After viewing, return here to make comments. 

Primary election day for Republicans is Tuesday, June 24. The winner of the contest will face Democrat Bennion Spencer in November.

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Beehive to Provo's Tyler Jensen, a hero of the war in Afghanistan who was awarded the Silver Star for heroism. When a unit of Afghan and American troops was ambushed, the National Guardsman took over and led them to safety, exposing himself to enemy fire to pull a wounded soldier to safety. We are in awe of the courage of men like Tyler Jensen.

Buffalo Chip to Utah-based Sock Obama LLC for even considering the idea of a monkey sock-puppet named for the Democratic candidate for president. You're in trouble when the best thing to be said in your defense is that you might be utterly clueless. The other explanations slide rapidly downhill to stupidity, insensitivity and racism.

Beehive to Ben Markham, who graduated from BYU decades ago and has been serving an LDS church mission in Ghana. Along with Markham, five BYU students and their faculty advisor, Charles Harrell, share in this award for their work on a project to help bring electricity to villages in the African nation. Markham found a way to generate electricity from a playground merry-go-round. Kudos for an ingenious idea, and for the BYU contingent that constructed the devices using only resources available in a desperately poor country.

Buffalo Chip to former Eagle Mountain mayoral candidate Richard Culbertson and his wife, Kathleen, who pleaded guilty on Thursday to fraud and racketeering charges. The Culbertsons were charged in a mortgage fraud case in which they reportedly used their daughter's and son-in-law's names to buy a home. We're only slightly disappointed the scam was uncovered. Had Culbertson become mayor, he would have taken his place among a long line of Eagle Mountain kooks and crooks, and provided more fodder for our news columns.

In the republican system envisioned by America's founders, (note the small "r" to differentiate the philosophy from a political party) citizens have an obligation to participate in their own security. That's why the Constitution includes references to the militia, for example.

There are years -- say, 1776, 1861, 1941 -- when the sleeping giant, the United States, wakes up from a long slumber. Americans are not easy to rouse, but when they are provoked the world better step aside.

Two recently released studies reveal there are sound reasons for feeling confidence about the well-being of children in Utah.