Outside spending to influence voters in Idaho’s legislative primary elections is increasing.

Political action committees, central committees and individuals spent $3.99 million in independent expenditures on the primary elections this year, a 16% increase from the $3.34 million spent in 2024.

While contributions to candidates’ campaigns are restricted to $1,000 per election for most donors, PACs can accept unlimited donations and spend an unlimited amount of money through independent expenditures. This money is often spent on mailers or TV advertisements to support or oppose candidates.

To find out which PACs and committees were most effective in their spending, EdNews analyzed all independent expenditures spent on legislative races this year and calculated the success rates of nine organizations.

The list below is in order from most spending to least.

Defend and Protect Idaho PAC is a coalition of law enforcement members, business owners, faith leaders and farmers that is dedicated to combatting political extremism in Idaho, according to its website, which recently expired. Retired Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney in the PAC’s chairman.

The PAC’s funding comes from a near-even mix of in- and out-of-state donations. It received a $90,000 contribution from businessman Caleb Roope and $50,000 from hay magnate Richard Larsen.

But the coalition’s largest donation comes from Way Back PAC, a federal hybrid PAC based in Wyoming, which chipped in $350,000 this year.

Total spent supporting candidates: $268,463

Of the 20 candidates the PAC supported, 11 won. It came up short in the top two candidates it supported.

The group spent $27,234 to support Megan Blanksma, who lost in a three-way primary against Sen. Christy Zito, and $25,173 to support Sen. Jim Woodward, who lost to Scott Herndon.

The group was successful in spending a total of $68,952 to re-elect Sen. Jim Guthrie, Rep. Ben Fuhriman, Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen and Rep. Mike Veile.

Total spent opposing candidates: $482,554

Of the 14 candidates the PAC opposed, seven lost. It was unsuccessful in ousting its three biggest targets.

The PAC spent $97,874 to oppose Sen. Dan Foreman, $66,381 to oppose Sen. Josh Keyser and $65,492 to oppose Sen. Christy Zito. They are all moving on to the general election.

But the PAC successfully spent a combined $72,940 to oppose candidates Julianne Young, Chad Christensen, David Worley and Karey Hanks. The PAC spent another $84,659 in successfully opposing Twin Falls Republicans Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, Sen. Josh Kohl and Rep. David Leavitt.

Idaho Liberty PAC is funded almost entirely by the Idaho Victory Fund, a PAC that supports Gov. Brad Little. The Victory Fund has contributed $1.43 million to the Idaho Liberty PAC since it was formed in 2023, and has received donations from the Idaho Inaugural Committee, businessman Caleb Roope, Idaho Power and St. Luke’s.

The PAC’s bare bones website includes a 15-second video that touts Little’s accomplishments.

“Idaho’s economy is booming and Governor Brad Little is fighting to make it even stronger,” the video states. “Little is streamlining regulations and eliminating costly red tape so businesses can grow. Brad Little, fewer regulations, more jobs.”

Total spent supporting candidates: $541,521

Of the nine candidates the PAC supported, six won.

Idaho Liberty PAC achieved its top priority of re-electing Sen. Jim Guthrie.

It spent $110,041 in support of Guthrie, who defeated challenger David Worley by 481 votes. But Guthrie was the only incumbent the PAC supported.

The group supported several challengers who took on Gang of Eight members.

The PAC found success in supporting Brent Reinke, who defeated Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld; Brian Beckley, who defeated Rep. Faye Thompson; Debbie Geyer, who defeated Rep. Lucas Cayler; Cherie Vollmer, who defeated Rep. David Leavitt; and Casey Swensen, who defeated Sen. Josh Kohl.

But the Idaho Liberty PAC failed in its efforts to support candidates Cindy Agidius, Michael Collins and Kody Daffer.

Total spent opposing candidates: $35,115

The PAC opposed one candidate. It spent $35,114 against David Worley, who lost to Guthrie.

Despite the name, nearly all of the Citizens Alliance of Idaho’s funding comes from outside of Idaho.

A Virginia-based super PAC called the Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee dropped $506,000 into the Citizens Alliance of Idaho’s coffers this year, dwarfing the handful of small donations from in-state.

The PAC wants to bring honesty and integrity to state politics by getting legislators to sign “The Citizens Alliance of Idaho Pledge,” according to its website. Legislators who sign the pledge agree to vote in support of:

• Expanding education freedom
• The right to self defense
• Individual medical freedom
• Election integrity
• The right to due process

Forty-two have signed on, including Republican Reps. Dale Hawkins, Jordan Redman and Elaine Price.

Total spent supporting candidates: $498,585

Of the 38 candidates the PAC supported, 19 won. The Alliance was successful in re-electing its top four legislative targets.

The PAC spent about $38,000 each in support of Sen. Josh Keyser, Rep. Steve Tanner, Rep Elaine Price and Rep. Barbara Ehardt, who all fought off more moderate candidates.

But the PAC was unsuccessful in re-electing several members of the Gang of Eight, including Zuiderveld, Leavitt, Kohl, Cayler and Thompson.

Total spent opposing candidates: $8,171

A much smaller chunk of money was spent opposing a total of three candidates: Sen. Jim Guthrie, Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen and North Idaho candidate Christa Hazel. Of the three, only Mickelsen won.

Make Liberty Win is a federal super PAC based in Virginia aligned with the libertarian Young Americans for Liberty.

The PAC reports contributions and expenses to the Federal Election Commission, which means it does not have a committee profile in Idaho Sunshine.

Total spent supporting candidates: $250,308

Of the 12 candidates Make Liberty Win supported, three won.

The PAC spent a total of $187,177 supporting all members of the Gang of Eight, but only three were victorious in the primaries: Sen. Christy Zito, Rep. Clint Hostetler and Rep. Kent Marmon.

Other candidates the PAC supported include Chad Christensen, who lost to Rep. Mike Veile, and David Worley, who lost to Guthrie.

Total spent opposing candidates: $60,732

The PAC opposed three candidates, who all won their primaries.

It spent $25,003 opposing Sen. Jim Guthrie, $23,714 in opposition to Rep. Mike Veile and $12,014 opposing Rep. Marco Erickson.

Rep. Jordan Redman of Coeur d’Alene created the 36-18-1 PAC less than a month before the primary election and quickly dropped a whopping $350,000 of his own money into supporting his pick of candidates.

The name appears to reference the 36 House votes, 18 Senate votes and one governor’s signature needed to pass legislation.

Redman has a diversified portfolio of business ventures. He owns Redman & Company Insurance, several pharmacies and is involved in real estate. A search of Idaho business records found Redman is the manager, president or governor of at least 20 companies, LLCs and corporations. 

Most revolve around an organization called 208 Companies. According to the website, the mission is: “Glorifying God by creating partnerships, community and opportunities that reflect His love and purpose.”

Total spent supporting candidates: $250,308

Of the 26 candidates the PAC supported, 14 won.

The PAC successfully paid for ads to support winning North Idaho candidates Rep. Elaine Price, Scott Herndon, Jane Sauter and Rep. Cornell Rasor.

But Redman didn’t limit himself to his own stomping grounds. His PAC also successfully supported Republican Reps. Chris Bruce in Kuna, Clint Hostetler in Twin Falls, Kyle Harris of Lewiston and Steve Tanner of Nampa.

Redman’s infusion of cash into the primary wasn’t enough to secure wins for 12 other candidates, including David Worley, Julianne Young, Chad Christensen or Gang of Eight members Zuiderveld, Leavitt, Kohl, 

Total spent opposing candidates: $0

Redman stayed positive and did not attack any candidates with his independent expenditures.

Redman wasn’t the only legislator who directed independent expenditures this year.

Rep. Josh Tanner, co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, is chairman of the Idaho Summit PAC. The PAC received a $200,000 contribution from Boise businessman Joe Russell in March and $15,000 from Redman in May.

Total spent supporting candidates: $215,257

Of the 21 candidates the PAC supported, 12 of them won.

Most of the 21 benefited from a few thousand bucks in support, but four candidates were outliers.

The PAC spent $42,183 to support Scott Herndon, who successfully unseated Rep. Jim Woodward.

Three candidates benefited from about $38,000 a piece in support: Kelly Golden, who lost to Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen; David Worley, who lost to Guthrie; and Julianne Young, who lost to Fuhriman.

Total spent opposing candidates: $2,500

Idaho Summit PAC opposed three candidates, all from the Idaho Falls area. They all won their primaries.

The PAC spent $1,000 each in opposition to Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen and Rep. Ben Fuhriman, plus $500 to oppose Rep. Erin Bingham, who was appointed to replace outgoing Rep. Wendy Horman.

The American Federation for Children, a Texas-based nonprofit that supports school choice, got what they wanted last year with the success of House Bill 93, which created the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit, and significantly pulled back its spending this year.

The Idaho Federation for Children PAC reported $432,923 in independent expenditures in 2024 to elect school choice candidates, but its parent nonprofit in April terminated that PAC and is now using its national super PAC, the AFC Victory Fund, to spend in Idaho.

The $105,517 this cycle is just a quarter of what the group spent two years ago.

Total spent supporting candidates: $19,563

The AFC Victory Fund mostly spent money on attack ads this year, and didn’t spend much to support candidates.

The PAC supported four candidates: Sen. Lori Den Hartog, Sen. Josh Keyser, Rep. Jason Monks and Cindy Agidius. All but Agidius won.

While the three incumbents benefited from an average of $6,000 a piece, the PAC spent $690 to support Agidius.

Agidius ran against Colton Bennett to replace outgoing Rep. Lori McCann. Bennett’s campaign was openly supportive of parental rights and education choice, but told EdNews in a December interview that he opposes “voucher programs” and is skeptical of HB 93. He said he would vote against expanding the tax credit.

Total spent opposing candidates: $85,953

But most of the PAC’s focus was on keeping former legislators Megan Blanksma and Melissa Durrant out of the Statehouse. They both lost their primaries to Sen. Christy Zito and Rep. Chris Bruce, respectively.

The PAC spent $44,877 to oppose Durrant and $41,075 to oppose Blanksma.

The winner of the ongoing battle between the two main factions in North Idaho was clear on Election Night.

Every single one of the legislative candidates the KCRCC supported won and every single candidate the North Idaho Republicans supported lost.

The KCRCC supported challengers Scott Herndon and Jane Sauter, as well as incumbent Reps. Elaine Price, Cornel Rasor, Dale Hawkins and Vito Barbieri.

The North Idaho Republicans supported their opponents: incumbents Sen. Jim Woodward and Rep. Mark Sauter, as well as challengers Christa Hazel and Charles Lowman.