BOISE, ID – Democratic state Senator Nicole LeFavour announced late Friday she’ll run for Congress. In a tweet, LeFavour explained why, “Because I love Idaho and we can do better.”
LeFavour will face seven term Congressman Mike Simpson, a Republican. He sits on the House Appropriations Committee and also chairs the House Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, among other assignments.
Eldon Wallace of Boise, a Democrat, and Democrat Jack Wayne Chappell of Buhl will also run against Simpson. Wallace went up against Lt. Gov. Brad Little two years ago. Republicans John Baird and M.C. “Chick” Heileson, both of Idaho Falls have also filed to run in Idaho’s Second Congressional District.
LeFavour announced in late February she would not seek another term for Boise’s District 19. In an interview with Boise State Public Radio she said Idaho is a hard place to be in the minority party.
“It is very hard to be a part of a body that continually does so much harm,” she said. “I’m not a person who doesn’t take these things to heart, you know, and one heart can only take so much of it. You kind of need to have fresh blood now and then, because there are some days it’s very hard.”
LeFavour served two terms in the House and two terms in the Idaho Senate. You can hear Boise State Public Radio’s interview with LeFavour about her decision to leave the Idaho statehouse here.
The deadline to declare candidacy was on Friday. You’ll find a complete list of candidates on the Idaho Secretary of State’s website.