Don't call him 'Congressman' just yet; 'Russ' will do

One of the strangest ironies that came out of the recent primary election is that Russ Fulcher is likely to have a job next year as Idaho’s First District congressman, and Congressman Raul Labrador will be out of politics.

It wasn’t supposed to work out that way. The governor’s race appeared to be Labrador’s to lose, right up to the GOP primary. The script had Labrador taking the oath as governor and welcoming Fulcher as the successor to the First District congressional seat.

Labrador, who was gracious in his loss to Lt. Gov. Brad Little, no doubt will do everything to ensure a smooth transition for Fulcher. There are mixed feelings about Labrador’s politics, but he is a class guy and I doubt if we’ve seen the last of him in the political arena. But for now, he’ll be out of politics in January and Fulcher’s career will be just starting.

But let’s not call him “congressman” yet.

“Russ will do,” he says. And knowing Fulcher, “Russ” will be fine once he takes office — assuming that he defeats Democrat Cristina McNeil in November. Recent history in that district, which favors conservative Republicans, is on Fulcher’s side.

For at least some of Fulcher’s supporters, there’s some sweet revenge that goes with the tables turning on Labrador. Fulcher had his eye on the governor’s office after giving Gov. Butch Otter a scare in the 2014 Republican primary, and some realistic expectations for winning the nomination this time. Then along came Labrador, and everything changed. The two men decided, and probably correctly so, that both would be doomed to lose to Little if both stayed in the race. They also figured, again correctly, that Labrador had the better name recognition going into the governor’s race. So, Fulcher backed out and announced his run for Congress, with Labrador’s blessing. But Fulcher never did endorse Labrador — or anyone else — in the governor’s race.

If there are any lingering wounds in Fulcher’s camp, they should be healed by now. Fulcher’s focus is on what’s ahead — winning the seat for real in November, then preparing for what he calls his “new journey” with his wife, Kara. Unlike Labrador, who did not hide his dislike for almost everything about Washington and being away from his young family, Fulcher looks forward to the move. The Fulchers have three grown children and plenty of flexibility to maintain normal lifestyles in Washington and Idaho — at least as “normal” as a congressman’s life gets.

“I view it all as a high honor,” he says.

Of course, he needs to win the general election, and Fulcher is not taking that for granted. State Rep. Paulette Jordan, the Democratic nominee for governor, has energized her party and that elevated level of enthusiasm could filter down to other races. Regardless, Fulcher would feel better going to Congress with about 75 percent support from voters, as opposed to something in the mid-50s.

Fulcher has received the nod from just about every conservative or religious-freedom group on the planet, but he knows there is a broader constituency beyond the right wing. As a former Senate majority caucus chairman, he has worked with all shapes and sizes on the political scale and he intends to serve in that fashion in Congress. Yes … that includes working with Democrats in Congress. It also means building bridges with Second District Congressman Mike Simpson and Idaho’s two Republican senators.

We can count on Fulcher to oppose gun control and abortion, and vote on the conservative side on most issues. But for constituents who are not of the right-wing ilk, they should find that Fulcher is approachable, likeable and level-headed.

And unlike some of our representatives in past years, he’s not the kind of guy who will say or do stupid things that will embarrass himself or the state.

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Chuck Malloy, a longtime Idaho journalist, is a columnist with Idaho Politics Weekly. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com.