GOP incumbents secure wins in Idaho

All three of Idaho's Republican congressional candidates have secured their bids for re-election against their Democratic challengers

BOISE — All three of Idaho’s Republican congressional candidates secured their bids for re-election against their Democratic challengers.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson will go on to serve a tenth term, while Republican U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador will serve a fourth term. Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo was also successful in securing his fourth term in office.

Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump won all four of Idaho’s electorate votes in Tuesday’s election.

The few competitive statewide races, however, were still too close to call several hours after polls closed in Idaho — as were many of the expected tight legislative races.

Twin Falls attorney Robyn Brody and Republican Sen. Curt McKenzie are in a runoff election for the little known-judicial position — this is the first runoff election for an Idaho Supreme Court seat since 1998.

Brody has ranked high among her fellow attorneys, which has resulted in large campaign donations from firms across the state.

McKenzie has won the endorsements of Idaho Chooses Life, an anti-abortion organization, and the National Rifle Association, which are favorable among Idaho’s strong conservative voting base.

There is only one statewide constitutional amendment on this year’s November ballot and it’s a familiar one.

Two years ago, Idaho voters said no to amend the state constitution to allow lawmakers veto power over administrative rules submitted by the executive branch. Convinced the amendment’s failure was due to uninformed voters, legislative leaders have launched an expensive new campaign this year urging the public to vote yes.

Nothing will change if the amendment fails or passes. Nearly 25 years ago, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that Idaho’s legislative veto power is legal. That ruling has never been challenged and Idaho lawmakers have been using legislative vetoes ever since.

However, Idaho lawmakers say they fear that that ruling could be challenged and so they want that permission expressly enshrined in the Idaho Constitution.

On the legislative level, all seats of the 105-member Idaho Legislature are on ballots. But 37 of those incumbents are Republican incumbents without opponents because they survived the May primary election.

Despite expected long lines, election workers reported relatively few surprises on election day except for a last-minute lawsuit filed by the Idaho Democratic Party in Ada County.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill announced he would allow extending polling hours in five locations late Tuesday evening, hours after news of the lawsuit against Ada County and Secretary of State Lawrence Denney was made public by the Idaho Democratic Party.

“The Idaho Democratic Party has a fundamental belief that our state and our nation are stronger when everyone participates in the Democratic process,” said Sally Boynton Brown, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party, in a prepared statement. “That means that we want to do everything we can to make sure every Idahoan gets to vote.”

Chief Election Deputy Phil McGrane said the lawsuit came as a surprise, adding the county complied with state law in alerting the public 30 days in advance of the new polling location.

The decision came down as Idaho election staffers are preparing for record voter turnout across the state. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to secure the state’s four electoral votes over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“I voted for Trump. I felt like the Obama thing didn’t work for our country,” said John Holsman, of Boise. “I know that Hillary kind of followed along with his stuff and I wasn’t in favor of that at all.”