A few headlines, so far, from the legislative candidate filing period.
We’re still early in the 10-day filing window, which closes on March 15. Check back for updates through the next two weeks.
The primary elections are May 21 and the general election is Nov. 5.
An expected showdown in District 8. This one has been in the works for months: District 8 Sen. Geoff Schroeder, R-Mountain Home, has filed for a second term, and former Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, has filed to take him on. Hardline activists have long had their eye on this seat, hoping to flip this seat to the right. Schroeder was a co-sponsor of a library materials bill this session — which narrowly died in Senate, drawing opposition from conservatives and Democrats alike.
District 8 is a geographic monster, encompassing Boise, Custer, Elmore and Valley counties.
Yamamoto’s primary challenger files. Caldwell Republican Kent Marmon made his campaign official, filing for the seat now held by House Education Committee Chairwoman Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell. Marmon has been raising money for some time, collecting more than $10,000 in campaign contributions through January. Yamamoto has not filed for re-election, but she has raised nearly $27,000 through January.
Races take shape in a Boise battleground. West Boise’s District 15 is Idaho’s quintessential swing district, represented now by a bipartisan mix. The three incumbents — Democratic Sen. Rick Just, Democratic Rep. Steve Berch and Republican Rep. Dori Healey — have all filed re-election paperwork.
Just and Berch will face familiar opposition.
Former Rep. Codi Galloway, a Republican, has filed for the Senate seat. Just won in November 2022 with 49.8% of the vote — and might not have won at all, if not for Constitution Party candidate Sarah Clendenon, who might have peeled some support from Galloway.
Berch, a House Education Committee member, has two Republican opponents: Steve Keyser and Annette Tipton. Berch defeated Keyser in November 2022, with 53% of the vote.
Healey does not yet have an official opponent.
Moyle gets a challenger. Nancy Parker, a Democrat from Caldwell, has filed to take on House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star. According to a current campaign finance report, Parker’s challenge is off to a low-budget start; she has loaned her campaign $100. Moyle — the longest-serving member of the Legislature, with 26 years’ experience — has not filed for re-election.
Assorted re-election filings of note.
- Benjamin Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee.
- C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.
- Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, a member of JFAC and Senate Education.
- Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, the House’s minority leader.
- Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, a Senate Education member.
- Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, a longtime House Education member.
- Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, the House GOP’s caucus chairman.
- Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, a JFAC member.
- Rod Furniss, a Rigby Republican who has led efforts this year to reduce the two-thirds supermajority on bond issues.
- Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, JFAC co-chair.
