Incumbents look good in state GOP primary

BOISE (AP) - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was slightly ahead of his challenger, Sen. Russ Fulcher, in early GOP primary returns, but the lead was slipping as more votes were counted late Tuesday night.

Just before midnight the two-term governor had slightly more than 52 percent of the vote, holding an 11,000-vote lead over Fulcher, the tea party favorite. The race between the two highlighted the deep divide in the Idaho Republican Party.

Challengers supported by tea party factions made runs at several statewide seats, but by 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, most of the incumbents were holding the lead.

Lt. Gov. Brad Little handily defeated his tea party challenger Jim Chmelik, winning about 70 percent of the vote in early returns.

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden also defeated his challenger, Boise attorney Chris Troupis, but by a narrower margin - about 61 percent of the votes counted by midnight.

State Controller Brandon Woolf's race against challenger Todd Hatfield was too close to call, with Woolf leading with about 52 percent of the roughly 97,000 votes counted so far.

Republican candidate Sherri Ybarra of Mountain Home held a slight lead against three opponents in Idaho's primary for superintendent of public instruction.

Randy Jensen of American Falls was in second place, with Andy Grover of Melba in third, followed by John Eynon of Cottonwood. All four of the candidates came with educator experience but no political background.

Democratic challenger Jana Jones ran unopposed in the primary. Jones barely lost to incumbent Tom Luna in 2006 and is expected to be a strong challenger in November's general election. Luna opted not to run for a third term.

The Gem State is one of 13 states where the superintendent of public instruction is an elected office.

Idaho's Republican party has grown increasingly fractured in recent years. Far right ideologists successfully sued to close the Republican primary so only registered party members could participate two years ago, and Tuesday's election was the first gubernatorial race under the new system.

The GOP primary is often considered the most competitive leg of the election because Republican candidates rarely face a strong Democratic challenger in November.

Deborah Silver won the Democratic nomination for state treasurer. She will face incumbent Republican Ron Crane in the general election.

Justice Joel Horton defeated Boise attorney William "Breck" Seiniger to retain his seat on the high court bench.