Now, as the Republican candidate in an overwhelmingly conservative congressional district, Chaffetz is likely to win a seat in Congress and the title of Utah's foremost firebrand.

But just as he showed in his race against Cannon, Chaffetz saves some of his best digs for those in his own party.

"The establishment is broken," he declared Monday over burgers and fries at Five Guys during a fundraising trip. "My complaint about Republicans in general is that what they say and what they do is often two different things."

Republicans often label themselves the party of fiscal responsibility, but Chaffetz said the GOP is responsible for the explosion of pork-barrel spending and the rising deficit.

Chaffetz says he won't ask for or accept earmarks (special funding requested by individual members often without public debate) and he is calling for budget reform. These fiscal positions may put him at odds with other members of Utah's delegation, in particular Sen. Bob Bennett, a member of the appropriations committee and a proponent of earmarks.

That's just fine with Chaffetz.

"Bring it on," he said.

Chaffetz also ridicules Republicans for supporting President Bush's No Child Left Behind education law, for failing to create a coherent energy policy and for failing to do anything about illegal immigration.

And he's not worried about offending anyone with his comments either, especially not those who lead his party.

"I'm not going to come back here and placate leadership," he said. "That is not my job."

These anti-establishment jabs may score with voters who are upset with the direction of the country, but it probably won't earn him many high-powered Republican friends if he defeats Democrat Bennion Spencer in November.

"It will be a very different style than Chris Cannon, which I guess is the point," said Quin Monson, a Brigham Young University political scientist. "I think he was in some part nominated to make some trouble."

Conservative Utah radio host Bob Lonsberry endorsed Chaffetz in particular for his willingness to challenge the Washington establishment, even if that means challenging other Republicans.

"He is exactly the sort of Jeremiah needed to call Washington to repentance," Lonsberry wrote in his endorsement.

An outspoken and combative Chaffetz would get plenty of media attention, predicts Monson, but it would also bring him trouble. He would have a hard time getting plum committee assignments or moving legislation.

But Chaffetz wasn't planning on drafting a bunch of new laws anyway. He has a different goal. He wants to rebuild the Republican Party from the inside out by joining a small group of vocal conservatives calling for a change. Chaffetz has already met with House members who are key in immigration reform and the anti-earmark debate. He said he wants to be the "wingman" for Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who has rankled Republican leaders by criticizing spending and earmarks.

"A lot in the beginning may be pounding on lecterns," he said, "You have to stand tall on principles."

His stands may make him a pariah for a while, but that's OK, says Mickey Edwards, a Republican who served 16 years in the House, including a stint in leadership.

"He's right when he says we need more people like that," says Edwards, who added that Republicans were a "disgrace" in the six years they had control of Congress.

But party leaders have been known to punish members who vocally challenge the party. Flake said he lost his top committee assignment and was passed over for a spot on the appropriations committee in retaliation for being outspoken. But Edwards said Republican leaders could only go so far.

"They can't take away your office. They don't have any bearing on where your parking place is. You have all the benefits of being in Congress whether they like you or don't like you," he said.

But Edwards adds that Chaffetz, if he becomes a House member, should be careful not to be mean or nasty or come off as a complete renegade.

And he noted one salient point: Sen. John McCain was considered a maverick Republican, and he now is the GOP's presidential candidate.

mcanham@sltrib.com

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* THOMAS BURR contributed to this article.

Chaffetz information

* Age: 41.

* Family: Married to Julie, and they have one son and two daughters: Max, 15, Ellis, 12, and Kate, 7.

* Education: Brigham Young University, bachelor of arts degree in communications.

* Background: Worked weekends at KUTV and full-time in public relations and product development for NuSkin. Founded and runs public relations firm Maxtera Utah Inc.

* Politics: Ran Democrat Michael Dukakis' presidential campaign in Utah in 1988. Switched to Republican Party and volunteered with Jon Huntsman Jr.'s campaign in 2004, later becoming campaign manager. When Huntsman was elected, Chaffetz became his chief of staff for a year. Trustee for Utah Valley University.

* Hobbies: Soccer, football, pingpong, "Rock Band."

DéjÀ vu?

When Utah Sen. Jake Garn was first elected in 1974, he got in trouble for what he acknowledged were "nasty remarks" about senators of both parties. But it wasn't long before he backpedaled, saying he had a different view after meeting the individuals.