Trump wins Idaho Republican caucuses

RATHDRUM — Former President Donald J. Trump won Idaho’s Republican caucuses Saturday, defeating Nikki Haley and claiming Idaho’s 32 delegates.

Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon announced Trump’s win in a news release published early Saturday evening, with more than 76% of precincts reporting statewide and more than 84% of the vote in favor of Trump.

“Idaho has reaffirmed its steadfast support for President Trump today,” Moon said.

In Kootenai County, Trump had garnered more than 3,900 votes at press time, according to the Idaho GOP, nearly 91% of the county’s total. Haley received 330 votes countywide.

Former candidates whose names still appeared on Idaho caucus ballots also received votes in Kootenai County. Ron DeSantis had received 51 votes at press time, while Vivek Ramaswamy earned five votes, Ryan Binkley got four votes and Chris Christie received six votes.

About 6.5% of Kootenai County’s more than 66,000 Republican voters turned out for the caucuses.

In Bonner County, Trump received 1,883 votes, about 91% of the total, while Haley received 152 votes, or 7.3%. DeSantis scooped up 19 votes, while Ramaswamy received four votes. Binkley and Christie got two votes each.

Trump received the most votes in Boundary County, with a total of 462 or 90.8%, and Nikki Haley received 39, or 7.7%. DeSantis and Ramaswamy received three votes each, while Binkley got one vote.

For a little more than two hours, 380 voters, many wearing red or apparel featuring the American flag, streamed in and out of New Life Church in Rathdrum, one of 25 caucus sites in Kootenai County. The church was one of the busiest caucus locations, serving six precincts.

“It’s been pretty brisk,” said caucus captain Don Eichler, as voters filed past in both directions.

Eichler said the site and volunteers were ready early enough that voters could begin casting ballots about thirty minutes before the official start of the caucus at 11 a.m.

“We’ll stay open as long as people come in,” he said. “We don’t want to exclude anybody.”

The caucus was open to “all registered Republican voters that are able to attend,” according to the Idaho GOP. Voters who were affiliated with the Republican Party as of Jan. 1 were allowed to vote in the caucus, while voters who turned 18 between Jan. 1 and March 2 could participate if they signed an affidavit declaring they had registered to vote and affiliate with the Republican Party.

There were no absentee or early voting options.

After showing photo ID and signing next to their name in a poll book, each voter received a red stamp on the hand. Voters received a second, black hand stamp upon receiving a ballot.

Most voters dropped their ballots into the ballot box and left right away. After the voting period closed at about 12:45 p.m., around two dozen people remained to watch the votes be tallied.

Post Falls resident Pam Branstetter last caucused about 15 years ago, when she lived in California. She said the experience wasn’t smooth.

“The lines were terrifically long,” she said.

But when she caucused Saturday at New Life Church, she said the process was simple and fast. Most voters were finished within 10 to 15 minutes.

Branstetter said she knew when she arrived that she would vote for Trump, who she believes represents “God-fearing people.”

“He is the only candidate that I know of that is willing to stand up against the woke majorities,” she said. “He is willing to do what he says he’s going to do if he’s elected. That means a lot to me. He follows through with what he says he’s going to do.”

For Janice Theodorou, a Coeur d’Alene resident, Saturday was her first caucus. She had previously only voted in presidential primary elections.

“It flowed very well,” she said. “It was simple.”

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris stopped by New Life Church during the caucus. He said several caucus captains were concerned about “potential tension in the community” and asked the sheriff’s office to send deputies by when possible.

By early afternoon, Norris said no disturbances had been reported.

“So far, I haven’t heard of any issues,” he said.