6:36 a.m. (FINAL): Legislative results are pretty much final, and the Democrats swept District 29 in Pocatello — picking up two House seats, capping a solid night of Democratic Statehouse gains.

After two unsuccessful tries, Democrat Mary Shea ousted Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, winning with close to 57% of the vote. Former Rep. Nathan Roberts, D-Pocatello, is returning to the House, also winning with 57% of the vote.

Sen. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, was re-elected with 59% of the vote.

The Democrats also held their leads in two other swing districts, flipping them blue.

The Democrats sealed up all three races in West Boise’s District 15. Voters elected longtime Boise School District trustee Nancy Gregory to a GOP-held Senate seat; re-elected Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, to a fifth term; and elected Democrat Jae Etchart to the House over two-term Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise.

In the Magic Valley’s District 26, Democrats picked up two House seats. Jerome Democrat Anita Janis ousted one-term Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome. Bellevue Democrat Kevin Marsh won an open seat that had been held by retiring Rep. Jack Nelsen, R-Jerome. On the Senate side, Hailey Democrat Ron Taylor won a fourth term.

This means Democrats picked up six legislative seats: one in the Senate, five in the House. That brings the Senate to 28 Republicans and seven Democrats, and the House to 56 Republicans and 14 Democrats. That swing could be enough to give Democrats another seat on some key committees, such as the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee and the Senate State Affairs Committee.

It also means we have no “split” legislative districts. The GOP holds all three seats in 28 districts, while the Democrats have seven districts to themselves.

Thanks for staying with this blog through the night.  I’ll have a full post-election analysis later today.

2:14 a.m.: At this point, I’m calling it a night until 6 a.m. or so, while we wait on the last few straggler vote counts.

The latest from the swing districts:

• District 6: All results are in, and it’s a sweep for the GOP, which will again hold all three seats in this north-central Idaho district. Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, will serve a fourth term after winning with 52.7% of the vote. Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, secured a fourth term with 54.7% of the vote. Troy Republican Colton Bennett won an open House seat with 54% of the vote.
• District 15: Democrats are on the verge of sweeping this west Boise swing district. Longtime Boise School District trustee Nancy Gregory is winning in the Senate race, and that would be a pickup for the Democrats. Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, is cruising toward a fifth term. Jae Etchart is poised to pick up a seat for the Democrats, ousting two-term Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise.
• District 26: Democrats are on the verge of picking up two House seats in this Magic Valley swing district. Jerome Democrat Anita Janis is leading one-term Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome. Bellevue Democrat Kevin Marsh is winning an open seat that had been held by the GOP. On the Senate side, Hailey Democrat Ron Taylor is leading handily. Only one Blaine County precinct remains uncounted — and it would seem unlikely to change the results.
• District 29: The biggest unanswered question. Bannock County hasn’t reported any new vote tallies since 9:30 p.m., leaving this Pocatello swing district in the balance. Democrats are leading all three races, based on the early numbers. Sen. James Ruchti is leading as he seeks a seventh legislative term. Mary Shea is leading Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, who has served eight years in the Legislature, over two stints. Former Rep. Nate Roberts is also leading his race, which also would be a Democratic pickup.

We’ll be back at 6 or so to update.

1:51 a.m.: Barring a big, late swing, Democrats appear poised to sweep District 15, a west Boise battleground.

Longtime Boise School District trustee Nancy Gregory is leading an open Senate race, holding 54.3% of the vote over Republican Desi Burbank.

Four-term Rep. Steve Berch is winning a rematch with 2022 opponent Steve Keyser. Berch has 58% of the vote.

And Jae Etchart is leading two-term Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise. Etchart has 53% of the vote.

According to the Ada County elections website, early votes and Election Day votes have been counted; some absentee ballots remain uncounted. But all three Republicans have a lot of ground to make up. In the closest race of the three, Etchart leads Healey by more than 1,200 votes.

If these results hold, Democrats will pick up the Senate seat and Healey’s House seat.

1:26 a.m.: Let’s reset legislative District 26, the Magic Valley swing district where Democrats now lead all three races.

Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, and House candidate Kevin Marsh of Bellevue have commanding leads at this point. Taylor is sitting at 59% in a three-way race, and Marsh has 61%.

The closest race is a three-person contest involving Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome. Anita Janis, a Jerome Democrat, is leading with nearly 53% of the vote — and has more than a 1,500-vote lead over Pohanka.

We have full results from Jerome County, which went to Pohanka, and 15 of 16 precincts have been counted in Blaine County, which is backing Janis.

That leaves Lincoln County. One of its five precincts is in, favoring Pohanka by 143 votes.

Pohanka won Lincoln County big in 2024, swamping Rep. Ned Burns, D-Bellevue, by more than 1,000 votes. Pohanka might need even more of a landslide in Lincoln County tonight in order to get re-elected.

If the results hold, the Democrats would pick up two House seats in District 26.

1:01 a.m.: With the results now final in Latah County, a few key races are in closer focus.

First, it the Moscow School District’s $65.6 million plant-facility levy is final, passing with 62% support. (Emma Epperly has the latest on that and all school ballot measures.)

It also sheds a little more light on the close legislative races in District 6. All three Democrats carried Latah County, while Republicans swept the portion of Nez Perce County that falls into District 6.

We have no numbers yet from the third county in District 6: Lewis County. There aren’t many votes in Lewis County — but in 2024, all three Republicans carried Lewis with at least 77% of the vote.

All of this would appear to bode well for the District 6 Republicans: Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola; Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow; and Troy Republican Colton Bennett.

12:42 a.m.: As we keep watching the swing legislative seats, here’s something else to keep an eye on.

At this point, we have only 8,495 votes counted in Bannock County, reflecting just 18% of registered voters.

That means there could be a lot of uncounted votes in District 29, where Democrats are leading in all three races and are poised (for now) to flip two House seats.

12:27 a.m.: With our third at the Statehouse upset watch: a few major changes. We are now down to six GOP-held legislative seats that, at this point, would flip.

• Senate, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Nancy Gregory is leading Boise Republican Desi Burbank.
• House Seat B, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Jae Etchart is leading Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise.
• House Seat A, District 26 (GOP seat): Jerome Democrat Anita Janis is leading Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome.
• House Seat B, District 26 (GOP seat): Bellevue Democrat Kevin Marsh is leading Eden Republican Lyle Johnstone.
• House Seat A, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Mary Shea is leading Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello.
• House Seat B, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Nate Roberts is leading Pocatello Republican Jennifer Miles.

Falling off the list, at this point:

• Senate, District 1 (GOP seat): Sagle Republican Scott Herndon now leads Sagle independent Steve Johnson.
• Senate, District 6 (GOP seat): Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, has pulled ahead of Lewiston Democrat Robin Weldy.
• House Seat A, District 6 (GOP seat): Troy Republican Colton Bennett now leads Lapwai Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart.
• House Seat B, District 6 (GOP seat): Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow, has pulled ahead of Moscow Democrat Kathy Dawes.

We’ll keep updating this list.

12:18 a.m.: With all the votes counted in Teton County, let’s take a quick look at this rural/tourist enclave across the border from Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Voters easily passed a two-year, $14.2 million supplemental levy, with 63% of the vote.

Meanwhile, Democrats swept the statewide races, independent candidate Todd Achilles defeated U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, and Democratic challenger Ellie Gilbreath defeated U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson.

Proposition 1 also carried the county, with nearly 66% support.

There aren’t many progressive strongholds in Idaho, but Teton County has emerged as one.

11:57 p.m.: One of the biggest routs of the night could be the demise of House Joint Resolution 4. (And no pun intended on the name.)

This constitutional amendment would have given the Legislature the sole authority “to legalize the growing, producing, manufacturing, transporting, selling, delivering, dispensing, administering, prescribing, distributing, possessing, or using of marijuana, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances.”

In other words, it would preclude any voter initiative regarding medicinal or recreational marijuana use.

The amendment needs a simple majority to pass. It is now failing, with nearly 67% opposition.

11:48 p.m.: Here’s a second look at the Statehouse upset watch: 10 GOP-held legislative seats that, at this point, would flip.

• Senate, District 1 (GOP seat): Sagle independent Steve Johnson is leading Sagle Republican Scott Herndon.
• Senate, District 6 (GOP seat): Lewiston Democrat Robin Weldy is leading Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola.
• House Seat A, District 6 (GOP seat): Lapwai Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart is leading Troy Republican Colton Bennett.
• House Seat B, District 6 (GOP seat): Moscow Democrat Kathy Dawes is leading Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow.
• Senate, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Nancy Gregory is leading Boise Republican Desi Burbank.
• House Seat B, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Jae Etchart is leading Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise.
• House Seat A, District 26 (GOP seat): Jerome Democrat Anita Janis is leading Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome.
• House Seat B, District 26 (GOP seat): Bellevue Democrat Kevin Marsh is leading Eden Republican Lyle Johnstone.
• House Seat A, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Mary Shea is leading Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello.
• House Seat B, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Nate Roberts is leading Pocatello Republican Jennifer Miles.

Off the list, at this point:

• House Seat A, District 1 (GOP seat): Cocolalla Republican Jane Sauter has pulled ahead of Sandpoint Democrat Karen Matthee.
• House Seat B, District 1 (GOP seat): Rep. Cornel Rasor, R-Sagle, now leads Sandpoint Democrat Kathryn Larson.

We’ll update this list as the night unfolds.

11:25 p.m.: Well, Secretary of State Phil McGrane called this one.

Before the polls closed Tuesday evening, McGrane said heavy voter turnout could lead to slow election results — specifically calling out Canyon County.

At this point, we have no results from Canyon County.

11:16 p.m.: The Republican Governors Association took some big losses Tuesday, with the GOP losing high-profile state capitol races in Texas and Ohio.

But here’s what RGA chair and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said about Idaho’s election, which the Associated Press has called for Republican incumbent Gov. Brad Little.

“Congratulations to Governor Brad Little on his reelection victory. Governor Little’s roots in Idaho run deep, and his commitment to Idahoans has never wavered,” Gianforte said. “Governor Little understands that growth should strengthen communities and the way of life that makes Idaho special. He will keep standing up for taxpayers, supporting farmers and ranchers, and ensuring success continues for the next generation.”

And here’s a statement from Tommy Schultz, CEO of the victory fund for the American Federation for Children, a pro-private school choice group that endorsed Little.

10:54 p.m.: This list is almost sure to change, but here’s an early look at the upset watch: 12 legislative seats that, at this point, would flip.

• Senate, District 1 (GOP seat): Sagle independent Steve Johnson is leading Sagle Republican Scott Herndon.
• House Seat A, District 1 (GOP seat): Sandpoint Democrat Karen Matthee is leading Cocolalla Republican Jane Sauter.
• House Seat B, District 1 (GOP seat): Sandpoint Democrat Kathryn Larson is leading Rep. Cornel Rasor, R-Sagle.
• Senate, District 6 (GOP seat): Lewiston Democrat Robin Weldy is leading Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola.
• House Seat A, District 6 (GOP seat): Lapwai Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart is leading Troy Republican Colton Bennett.
• House Seat B, District 6 (GOP seat): Moscow Democrat Kathy Dawes is leading Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow.
• Senate, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Nancy Gregory is leading Boise Republican Desi Burbank.
• House Seat B, District 15 (GOP seat): Boise Democrat Jae Etchart is leading Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise.
• House Seat A, District 26 (GOP seat): Jerome Democrat Anita Janis is leading Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome.
• House Seat B, District 26 (GOP seat): Bellevue Democrat Kevin Marsh is leading Eden Republican Lyle Johnstone.
• House Seat A, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Mary Shea is leading Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello.
• House Seat B, District 29 (GOP seat): Pocatello Democrat Nate Roberts is leading Pocatello Republican Jennifer Miles.

We’ll update this list as the night unfolds.

10:22 p.m.: Two more early school levy results: the Camas County School District went two for two Tuesday.

Voters approved a two-year, $450,000 levy for salaries, supplies and materials. It passed with 66% of the vote.

A two-year, $150,000 levy for a music program received 67% of the vote.

Supplemental levies require a simple majority to pass.

10:15 p.m.: Looks like we can make an early call in one of the school ballot measures: A plant-facility levy in Weiser failed.

With all votes counted in Washington County, the four-year, $1.4 million levy received 53.6% of the vote. It needed a 55% majority to pass.

All told, there are $307 million in school levies on the ballot statewide.

9:59 p.m.: It’s early, but a potential series of surprises in legislative District 6, with all three Democrats out to an early lead.

Lewiston Democrat Robin Weldy is leading Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, who has served six years in the Legislature. Lapwai Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart is leading an open race against Troy Republican Colton Bennett. And in a rematch, Moscow Democrat Kathy Dawes is leading three-term Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow.

I wrote a little while ago that this doesn’t feel like a swing district; Republicans have held all three seats since redistricting. We’ll see what the rest of the night has in store.

9:33 p.m.: We pundits talk a lot about Idaho’s few “swing” legislative districts.

Here’s why we look at such a small part of the map.

Doing a little research this afternoon, I looked over fall election results from 2022 and 2024, the two cycles for the current legislative map.

In only six of Idaho’s 35 districts have we had what can be loosely called a “close” race — with a winner capturing less than 60% of the vote.

That includes District 15, the west Boise battleground district; District 26, a closely contested Magic Valley district; and District 29, a purple Pocatello legislative district.

It also includes three districts I wouldn’t exactly call “swing” districts: District 6, centered in Moscow and parts of Lewiston, which reliably votes Republican; and two solidly Democratic Boise strongholds, Districts 16 and 17.

The map is pretty narrow. I’ll be interested to see if we have any breakthroughs, in either direction.

9:17 p.m.: The very early first smattering of numbers is in, some results from Ada, Nez Perce and Twin Falls counties.

The early numbers have Democrats winning several statewide races, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general,  except for secretary of state, and Proposition 1, the voter initiative on abortion rights, winning with 60% of the vote.

My guess is, these are early votes and absentee votes, which tend to skew heavily Democratic. These are the numbers we have now, and obviously there’s a long way to go.

9 p.m.: And now, the witching hour. The polls just closed in the Pacific time zone. They closed an hour ago in the Mountain time zone.

Numbers could start coming any time now.

8:15 p.m.: A few turnout numbers from Secretary of State Phil McGrane’s 7:30 p.m. media briefing.

• All told, 644,732 Idahoans have voted so far. That translates to a 58% turnout, ahead of the 57.2% turnout in 2022, the last midterm November election. “We’re certainly well on pace to pass 2022,” McGrane said. “The question will be how much.”
• The vote tally includes about 270,000 absentee and early voters, compared to 190,000 pre-Election Day votes four years ago.
• The heavy voter traffic — and the long ballot — will also translate into slow Election Night returns in Canyon County and other areas with high turnout. “I think it’s going to be a long night in some locations,” McGrane said. “We’re bracing for a long evening.”

In other words, we’ll be blogging here for a long time this evening.

For a little historical deep dive, click here for past voter turnout numbers.

5:30 p.m.: Good evening, and welcome to the election night live blog.

We will start posting as results come in — which will happen shortly after the polls close at 9 p.m. Mountain time, 8 p.m. Pacific time.

Our reporters will cover the news as it happens: Ryan Suppe will focus on the statewide races, Sean Dolan will cover the legislative races, and Emma Epperly will cover the $307 million in school levies.

Keep an eye on their coverage — and the latest numbers at our vote tracker — and I’ll try to keep you posted and look for trends and instant analysis.

Races I’ll watch tonight, in no particular order:

• The statewide races, especially for governor and state superintendent. Will the GOP maintain its hammerlock on state offices? Or will a Democrat break through for the first time since 2002?
• The legislative swing districts: the west Boise battleground of District 15; the Magic Valley’s hotly contested District 26; Pocatello’s purple District 29. If there are flips in the Legislature — where Republicans hold 90 of 105 seats — they would mostly happen in these three districts, which already have split delegations.
• The school levies, starting with the big $65.6 million plant-facility levy in Moscow.

The advisory ballot question on a state gun will probably not get much attention here tonight. Just letting you know upfront.