Tag: idaho
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Rate of state legislative incumbents facing primary challengers doubles in Idaho compared to recent years
More state legislative incumbents are facing primary challenges in Idaho this year than at any point since at least 2014. Seventy-five incumbents are seeking re-election this year, 61.3% of whom (46) are running in contested primaries. From 2014 to 2020, the percentage of incumbents in contested primaries hovered at around half that rate ranging from…
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In Idaho’s two congressional districts, there is one contested primary this year
The filing deadline for candidates running for state or federal office in Idaho was March 11, 2022. This year, nine candidates—two Democrats, six Republicans, and one Libertarian—are running for Idaho’s two U.S. House districts. That’s 4.5 candidates per district, less than the 5.0 candidates per district in 2020 and 9.0 in 2018. Here are some…
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Idaho governor signs bill locking a lower unemployment tax rate for two years
Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) signed House Bill 450 into law on Feb. 18, lowering Idaho’s unemployment insurance tax rate for the next two years. The state estimated the lower unemployment tax range would save Idaho employers $64 million for the duration of the tax cut. Employers pay state unemployment taxes to fund the unemployment…
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Idaho enacts new congressional and state legislative maps
On Nov. 12, 2021, the Idaho Independent Redistricting Commission formally submitted its final congressional and state legislative maps to the secretary of state, enacting new maps for the state’s two U.S. House districts and 35 legislative districts. The commission voted in favor of the final versions of both the congressional and state legislative maps on…
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Lori McCann appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives
Governor Brad Little (R) appointed Lori McCann (R) on May 17 to represent District 6A in the Idaho House of Representatives. The seat has been vacant since April 29, when former state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger (R) resigned. McCann’s professional experience includes working as a professor at Lewis-Clark State College, where she was also the…
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Recall elections defeated in 2 Idaho school districts
Two Idaho school districts held recall elections for school board members on May 18. In Idaho Falls School District 91, voters were asked if they wanted to recall Zone 3 representative Lara Hill, and in the Nampa School District, they were asked if they wanted to recall Zone 4 representative Kim Rost. Both recall efforts…
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Voters in two Idaho school districts to decide recall elections on May 18
Two Idaho school districts are holding recall elections for two school board members on May 18. In Idaho Falls School District 91, voters will be asked if they want to recall Zone 3 representative Lara Hill, and in the Nampa School District, they will be asked if they want to recall Zone 4 representative Kim…
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Aaron von Ehlinger resigns from Idaho House of Representatives
Idaho state Representative Aaron von Ehlinger resigned on April 29 after the Idaho House Ethics and Policy Committee found his “conduct unbecoming” of a representative and voted unanimously to recommend his immediate suspension and expulsion from the House. Von Ehlinger said in his resignation letter, “I maintain my innocence of any wrongdoing of which I…
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Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signs bill increasing initiative signature distribution requirements
On April 17, Gov. Brad Little (R) signed Senate Bill 1110. The bill changed the state’s distribution requirement for ballot initiative and veto referendum signature petitions to require signatures from 6% of voters from all 35 legislative districts instead of the previous requirement of 6% of voters from 18 of the state’s legislative districts. With…
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Idaho voters to decide in 2022 if the legislature can call itself into special session
The Idaho State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the 2022 ballot that would allow lawmakers to call a special legislative session. The measure would authorize the president pro tempore of the state Senate and the speaker of the state House to convene a special session of the Idaho State Legislature upon receiving a joint…