No surprises in Idaho elections

The much-anticipated midterm elections are now history, as the state of Idaho moves forward and the nation prepares for the 2024 presidential election cycle.

 In Idaho, based on unofficial results, the 2023 Idaho Senate remains red, with 28 Republicans and seven Democrats (80 percent and 20 percent) and the 2023 Idaho House will include 59 Republicans and 11 Democrats (84 percent and 16 percent). 

 “This makeup is unchanged from 2022 in the Senate and includes one additional Republican seat in the House,” wrote Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin in a press release issued last week. “Due primarily to retirements and redistricting, there will be many new state senators this session, with only 15 of the 35 senators in office in 2022 returning. While some of the 20 incoming senators are current or former lawmakers, about half are new to the Legislature.”

 As expected, Gov. Brad Little will serve another term, taking 60.52 percent of the vote, with 358,585 votes. The next closest candidate, Democrat Stephen Heidt, received 20.28 percent, with 120,158 votes, followed by Ammon Bundy who accounted for 17.19 percent and 101,837 votes.

 Mike Crapo retains his U.S. Senate seat, capturing 60.59 percent, with 358,539 votes. Russ Fulcher retains his seat as U.S. Representative for Dist. 1 and Mike Simpson will remain the U.S. Representative for Dist. 2.

 Former Dist. 27 Representative, Scott Bedke, won his race for Lt. Gov. and former U.S. Senator, Raul Labrador, will serve as the state’s new Attorney General.

 Debbie Critchfield won her bid for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction.

 For complete statewide results, visit the Idaho Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.idaho.gov. 

 Republican candidates fared well in Washington county, Gov. Little receiving 64.12 percent of the votes, with 2,516 among the 3,930 total ballots cast. Crapo took 74.26 percent of the votes, with 2,894 and Fulcher won in a landslide, garnering 3,181 votes for 81.44 percent.

 State Sen. incumbent Abby Lee; State Rep. for Dist. 9, Seat A, Jacyn Gallagher; and State Rep. for Dist. 9, Seat B, Judy Boyle all ran unopposed. Candidates for contests in Washington County all ran unopposed.

 An interesting note is the number of “under votes” for each race, which reflects registered voters who did not vote for candidates in a specific race. In Washington County, for example, 3,930 voters cast votes in the race for Governor. Elections results, however, also show that 59 registered voters did not choose any of the five candidates. For complete Washington County results, visit the county website at www.co.washington.id.us.

 According to McGeachin, voter turnout for Idaho in 2022 fell below 600,000 in a state with over 1.8 million residents. During the 2018 midterm election, more than 612,000 Idahoans voted.

 “This reduced turnout may be attributable to fewer competitive statewide races,” she said.

 Gov. Little expressed his gratitude to Idaho voters in a Nov. 9 press release.

 “I am very proud and humbled that we earned the continued confidence of so many Idahoans!” he said. “The election results translate one thing: the people have given us a mandate, and that mandate is to keep our state on this path of incredible and unprecedented success, to continue investing in parents, students, and teachers, and to show the rest of the country that conservative governing promotes prosperity and freedom.”