Idaho candidate filings (March 11, 7:22 p.m.)

All 105 legislative seats are up for grabs this year.

And Idaho has a wide-open race for a Supreme Court vacancy.

And then there are the races for Idaho’s two seats in Congress, and a U.S. Senate seat.

The election season began with the two-week candidate filing period, which closed at 5 p.m. Friday.

Here’s a look at the lineup:

Federal races

U.S. Senate: Republican Mike Crapo has filed for a fourth six-year term. He has a Democratic opponent, Jerry Sturgill of Boise. Two Constitution Party candidates, Ray Writz of Coeur d’Alene and perennial candidate Pro-Life of Letha, will meet in a rare third-party primary.

1st Congressional District: Republican Raul Labrador will seek a fourth term. He has two GOP primary opponents: Gordon Counsil of Caldwell and Isaac Haugen of Santa Rosa, Calif. Three Democrats have filed: Staniela Nikolova of Moscow; James Piotrowski of Boise and Shizandra Fox of Santa Rosa, Calif.

2nd Congressional District: Republican Mike Simpson will seek a 10th term. He has a Republican primary opponent, Lisa Marie of Boise. Boise Democratic Jennifer Martinez has filed for the seat. Constitution Party candidate Anthony Tomkins of Twin Falls has also filed.

Idaho Supreme Court

The race to succeed retiring Chief Justice Jim Jones has attracted six candidates: Robyn Brody of Rupert; Sergio Gutierrez of Nampa, an Idaho Court of Appeals justice;  Curt McKenzie of Nampa, a Republican state senator who is leaving the Legislature; Wm. Breck Seiniger of Boise, who ran unsuccessfully for Supreme Court in 2014; Christ Troupis of Eagle, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for attorney general in 2014; and Clive Strong, a deputy attorney general specializing in water issues. All six names will appear on the May 17 ballot. Unless a candidate clears the 50 percent threshold, the top two candidates will meet in November.

In the other Supreme Court race, Roger Burdick is running unopposed.

Legislature

House Education Committee

Thirteen of the committee’s 15 members will run again:

  • Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay. He has two Democratic opponents, Sarah Althea Brotherton of Sandpoint and Bob Vickaryous of Bonners Ferry.
  • Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene (unopposed).
  • Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins. He has a Republican opponent, Kris Steneck of Elk City.
  • Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly. He faces a Democratic opponent, Jocelyn Plass of Stanley.
  • Rep. Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth. He faces a Republican primary opponent, Jake Stephens of Caldwell. Rejeana Goolsby, a Weiser Democrat, has also filed for the seat.
  • Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale. She faces a Republican primary opponent, Michael Dolton of New Plymouth. Parma Democrat R.T. Loyd has also filed.
  • Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise. He faces two Republican primary opponents: Rod Beck of Boise, a former state senator; and Jason J. Robinson of Boise. Boise Democrat Jake Ellis has also filed.
  • Rep. Hy Kloc, D-Boise (unopposed).
  • Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise (unopposed).
  • Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian. He has a Democratic opponent, Robert Winder of Boise.
  • Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry. He has a GOP primary opponent, Christy Zito of Hammett. Mary Ann Richards, D-Homedale, has also filed for the seat.
  • Rep. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls. He has a Democratic opponent, Dale Varney of Twin Falls.
  • Rep. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, committee vice chair (unopposed).

At least two changes are on the horizon, however.

Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, is not seeking re-election. On Feb. 29, two Republicans filed for DeMordaunt’s seat: DeMordaunt’s wife, Gayann; and Douglas Jones of Meridian. Gayann DeMordaunt sits on the state’s Public Charter School Commission. Jones served in the Legislature from 1985 to 2006 when he lived in Filer, and chaired the House Agriculture Committee. Eagle Democrat Glida Bothwell has also filed for the seat.

Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding, also is not seeking re-election. Two candidates have filed for her seat: Gooding Democrat Sally Toone and Richfield Republican Alex Sutter.

Senate Education Committee

All nine committee members have filed for re-election.

  • Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene (unopposed).
  • Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene. She has a Democratic opponent, Kristi Milan of Coeur d’Alene.
  • Sen. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, committee vice chairman. He faces a Constitution Party candidate, Kirsten Faith Richardson of Letha.
  • Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise (unopposed).
  • Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise (unopposed).
  • Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian. She has two Republican primary opponents: Charles Pratt Porter and Robert “Ernie” Terrell, both of Kuna.
  • Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls. He has a Democratic opponent, Scott McClure of Jerome.
  • Sen. Kelly Anthon, R-Burley (unopposed).
  • Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls, committee chairman (unopposed).

Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee

Nineteen of the 20 members of this powerful House-Senate budget-writing committee want two more years in the Statehouse:

  • Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, the Senate JFAC co-chair. She faces a GOP primary opponent, Glenn Rohrer of Priest River. Bonners Ferry Democrat Steve Tanner has also filed for the seat.
  • Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene. He has a GOP primary opponent, Arthur Macomber of Coeur d’Alene. Two Democrats have filed as well: Patrick Mitchell and Turns To The East, both of Coeur d’Alene.
  • Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow. He has a Republican opponent, John Freeland of Moscow.
  • Sen. Dan Johnson, R-Lewiston, the Senate JFAC vice chair (unopposed).
  • Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood. She has a Republican primary opponent, Carl Crabtree of Grangeville. Sagle Democrat Ken Meyers has also filed.
  • Thayn.
  • Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa. He has a Democratic opponent, Shana Tremaine of Nampa.
  • Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise. He has a Republican opponent, Kreed Ray Kleinkopf of Boise.
  • Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise (unopposed).
  • Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian (unopposed).
  • Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson (unopposed).
  • Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, the House JFAC co-chair. She has a GOP primary opponent, Reggy Stearnes of Jerome.
  • Rep. Steven Miller, R-Fairfield. He faces a Democratic opponent, Kathleen Eder of Hailey.
  • Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-Inkom. He has a Democratic opponent, Mike Saville of McCammon.
  • Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls. She has a Republican primary opponent, Randy Neal of Idaho Falls.
  • Mortimer.
  • Sen. Steven Bair, R-Blackfoot (unopposed).
  • Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, the House JFAC vice-chair (unopposed).
  • Rep. Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton. He has a Republican primary opponent, Daniel Davis of St. Anthony.

The lone budget-writer who isn’t running again is Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello. State Rep. Mark Nye, D-Pocatello, has filed to succeed him in the Senate.

House-Senate leadership

Thirteen of the 14 members of House and Senate leadership will run again:

  • Rep. Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, House speaker (unopposed).
  • Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, majority leader. He has a GOP primary opponent, Michael Greenway of Eagle. Jane Rohling, an Eagle Democrat, has also filed for the seat.
  • Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, assistant majority leader (unopposed).
  • Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, majority caucus chairman (unopposed).
  • Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, minority leader. He has a Republican opponent, Mike Kingsley of Lewiston. This shapes up to be a rematch from November 2014, when Rusche won by only 48 votes.
  • Rep. Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, assistant minority leader. He has a Republican opponent, Mark Patten of Boise.
  • Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, Senate president pro tem (unopposed).
  • Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, majority leader (unopposed).
  • Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, assistant majority leader (unopposed).
  • Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, majority caucus chairman. He has a Democratic opponent, Chelle Gluch of Nampa.
  • Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, minority leader. She has a Republican opponent, Dale Ewersen of Bellevue.
  • Buckner-Webb, assistant minority leader.
  • Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, minority caucus chairman. He has a Republican opponent, Ryan McDonald of Boise.

The lone exception is Pence, the Democrats’ House caucus chair.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

Get EdNews in your inbox

Weekly round up every Friday