Recount confirms Boyle’s win in narrow legislative race

New count, same numbers.

Rep. Judy Boyle will remain in the Legislature, after narrowly defeating Rep. Scott Syme in the closest race in the May 17 Republican Party primary.

The results of an election recount were announced Thursday. Boyle, of Midvale, received 4,636 votes. Syme, of Wilder, received 4,630 votes. The six-vote margin, and the exact vote tallies, didn’t change from Election Night. (Details from Clark Corbin at Idaho Capital Sun.)

The narrow result carries some education policy implications.

Boyle, a seventh-term lawmaker, sits on the House Education Committee. Syme, a third-term legislator, sits on the budget-writing Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

The Boyle-Syme primary resulted from redistricting. Idaho’s new legislative map thrust the two House incumbents in the same district — along with a third House incumbent, Education Committee Vice Chair Ryan Kerby, who lost in his contested primary to challenger Jacyn Gallagher of Weiser.

Syme and Kerby were among 20 incumbent lawmakers who lost in the May GOP primary. Boyle is unopposed in the November general election.

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]

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