With about six weeks to go until Idaho’s Primary Elections, PaleoMedia.org is picking the 10 hottest races across the state. We will be covering these races here and on the forums, so jump in and tell us what’s happening in your neighborhood.
- Former Coeur d’Alene schools superintendent David Rawls is challenging Rep. Phil Hart in the District 3 primary. Hart holds some extreme views on things like taxes – like they do not necessarily have to paid – and owes thousands of dollars to the Uncle Sam. Rawls’ Republican bona fides have been called into question. Discuss here.
- In Caldwell and parts south, former State Department of Agriculture director Pat Takasugi is challenging fondue purveyor and commie fighter Curtis “Curt” Bowers. Otter passed over Takasugi and tapped Bowers last year to fill Caldwell doc Bob Ring’s seat when Ring retired mid-term. Discuss here.
- The large SW Idaho district that starts in Nampa and heads west to Emmett has a good three-way primary race with a former legislator and a well-known Canyon County commissioner vying to take out Steven Thayn, perhaps the state’s most socially conservative lawmaker. Matt Beebe is a county commissioner who is well-connected in the Canyon County GOP and Gary Bauer served in the Legislature in ’03-’04. Discuss here.
- Three powerful Republicans are challenging Sen. Stan Bastian in Eagle and West Boise in a district that is experiencing rapid growth and changing demographics. Attorney Saundra McDavid lost a tight race for Eagle’s mayor last fall. Henry Kulczyk is a former state rep and frequent conservative commentator on Idaho Public Television. And Chuck Winder is a well-connected business man who once ran for Boise mayor. Discuss here.
- In the same district, District 14, three Democrats signed up to challenge House Majority Leader Mike Moyle. One has already dropped out. Now unknowns Glida Bothwell and Michelle Waddell will go head to head in May for the chance to debate Moyle. An opportunity that the three Republicans running for the Senate seat passed up. Discuss here.
- In Boise’s District 18 two powerful Republican women want to challenge freshman Rep. Brandon Durst. Julie Ellsworth, a former legislator and Gail Hartnett, who has the backing of the deep-pocketed Realtors Association will face off on May 27. Discuss here.
- In another gubernatorial appointment face-off, Rep. Mark Snodgrass is challenging Sen. Shirley McKague for Meridian’s Senate seat. McKague rose to the Senate last year on an Otter appointment when Sen. Gerry Sweet resigned. Transportation, immigration and liquor laws will make for interesting debate here. Discuss.
- In Mountain Home, a conservative blogger Clayton Cramer, is taking on Sen. Tim Corder who has been very active on tax reform and outspoken on human rights. Cramer has already been blogging the race and Corder, as far as we can tell, does not have a Web site. Discuss here.
- Three Republicans are challenging Rep. Tom Loertscher in Idaho’s easternmost district. Allen Harrison, V. Elliott Larsen and Nancy J. Nead would like to replace Loertscher. Discuss here.
- Three-way rematch down to two in Idaho Falls. Perrenial candidate Mike Adams already dropped out (again), but either Ann Rydalch, a former legislator or Erik Simpson, a former journalist who works at INL will be the next Idaho Falls Rep. Discuss here.
