Category Archives: Elections
Tea Party Idaho planning to play a role in November election
The surprise story of the 2010 midterm elections was the Tea Party, both in Idaho and across the nation. If was as if the silent majority that former President Richard Nixon referenced awoke from a long winter’s nap and made … Continue reading
Most races ended without much drama, but one senator called his own demise over a year ago
The primary election was not so much sound and fury as it was anti-climactic. Fireworks and change predicted by many among the Republicans produced some fireworks, but not much change. Now that Tuesday’s primary election has ended, what does it … Continue reading
Corder, Hart, Nessett, Schaefer lose re-election; other challengers statewide fail to sway voters
Four legislative races Tuesday resulted in the defeats of Republican incumbents, but all other challengers fell short of their goal of toppling long-standing and well-funded incumbents. GOP Rep. Phil Hart of Hayden lost a four-way race to challenger Ed Morse, ending … Continue reading
Adjustments to Luna’s education reforms clear the Legislature
Education reform dominated discussions during the 2011 Idaho Legislative session, and on the last day of the session, the Idaho Senate approved several changes to state schools superintendent Tom Luna’s reform plan. The tweaks include an emergency clause that could … Continue reading
Senate approves new primary plan with party registration
The Idaho Senate approved a new primary election system that could limit voting in the Republican primary to registered Republican voters. The legislation requires the state to start asking voters to register as members of a political party or as … Continue reading
New closed primary and voter registration plan introduced
A new plan for to close Idaho’s primary elections and require voters to register by parties could still allow independents to cast a vote in primaries, though party leaders would have the final say on such participation. The chairmen of … Continue reading
Court ruling pushes Idaho toward party registration primaries
Idaho Republicans are planning to introduce a party registration system for voters in primary elections. The proposed legislation comes after a federal judge sided with Republicans in ruling that Idaho’s open primary election system violates their constitutional right to freely … Continue reading
Democrat in District 18 House race likely to request recount next week
In a testament to the importance of voting, Democrat Janie Ward-Engelking lost her bid for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 18 by nine votes to Republican Julie Ellsworth, a 10-term state legislator defeated in 2006. Ellsworth garnered 6,429 … Continue reading
Board certifies general election results, recount likely in District 18 House race (video)
It took less than 10 minutes, but the Idaho Board of Canvassers – comprised of the secretary of state, state controller, and state treasurer – Wednesday made official returns from the Nov. 2 general election. Now that results are complete, … Continue reading