Live election results from across Idaho
Idaho Election Results
Listen to Boise State Public Radio's Election Night coverage on Wednesday's episode of The Connector
We've got full coverage and you'll hear the voices of what turned out to be a rather historically good evening for Idaho Republicans. We'll also hear from Idaho Democrats who aren't pleased but remain committed to their mission.
After state and national losses, election night a 'wake up call' for Idaho Democrats
Tuesday night was a tough one for Idaho Democrats.
As of early Wednesday morning, Proposition 1 was heading for a resounding defeat, and several of the party’s seats in the state legislature were set to be flipped, according to unofficial results.
Several hours before results painted a clearer picture of the disappointing results for her fellow Democrats, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean told those assembled at the Grove Hotel in downtown Boise that “regardless of what happens tonight, you'll wake up in the morning, you'll watch the sunrise. We will all live to fight another day.”
Bette Carlson volunteered for the Proposition 1 campaign because she felt closed primaries excluded many voters. The measure would have ended closed party primaries and created a ranked-choice voting system for the general election.
“I’m not feeling really great about it,” she said late Tuesday. As of 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, the measure was going down by a more than 2 to 1 margin. “I thought that we did a good job and people worked hard...And I think that maybe people that voted against [it] really didn't understand and didn't take an opportunity to really understand what [the proposition] is, because it's really not that complicated.”
Mirroring the despondent mood in the steadily emptying room, she said she was “scared” of what then seemed like Donald Trump’s likely victory.
“I think people should take this as a wake up call that we really need to practice our democracy,” she said. “We really need to get out there and get in charge of what's happening and not just sit back and … just ignore things. We've really got to get out there and work hard.”
Boise State Public Radio signing off for the night
This will be the last update of the night. We will back with more updates in the morning, as more votes get counted and counties across Idaho finish reporting unofficial results.
GOP headquarters attendees speak out
As election night continues, attendees of the Idaho GOP headquarters are sharing their thoughts on a potential Trump victory.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador spoke about the current results.
"I'm excited about the results that we're seeing, and we are all hoping that Proposition One goes down tonight," Labrador said.
Young voter Tyler Burton said people in the room are excited about their religious concerns being heard through the results of the election.
"In Idaho, as I think you kind of know, maybe talking to people, there's a certain amount that we're a really religious state. There is the physical, the money, and then there's the spiritual, be Mormon or be reformed or Catholic or something. And so then the moral implications of, okay, what legislation are we going to get according to our beliefs?"
Mike Simpson wins reelection to U.S. House
Incumbent Mike Simpson has won reelection to U.S. House in the second congressional district. Simpson has been in the seat since 1999.
BREAKING: Republican Mike Simpson wins reelection to U.S. House in Idaho's 2nd Congressional District. #APRaceCall at 12:46 a.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024
So far, he has received 59% of the vote followed by Democrat David Roth, with 33.5% of the vote.
Russ Fulcher wins reelection to U.S. House
The Associated Press has called the U.S. House race for Russ Fulcher.
BREAKING: Republican Russ Fulcher wins reelection to U.S. House in Idaho's 1st Congressional District. #APRaceCall at 12:42 a.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024
Fulcher has held the seat since 2019. So far, he has received 71.5% of the vote, with Democrat Kaylee Peterson behind him with 25.2% of the vote, according to early unofficial results.
Donald Trump called to win Idaho
Within minutes of the polls closing in north Idaho, the Associated Press called the presidential election for Donald Trump in the state.
BREAKING: Donald Trump wins Idaho. #APRaceCall at 11:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 6, 2024
As of 10:20 p.m., only one of Idaho's 44 counties has fully reported election results. 71% of the vote in Bonneville County went towards Trump and 25.6% for Kamala Harris.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the AP call.
As we wait to see what the rest of the country has to say, Idahoans have made it clear: they want to secure the border, lower taxes, rein in government spending, and save America’s economy.
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) November 6, 2024
Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory in Idaho! https://t.co/EJgkA8d7mR
Reporters are at the GOP Headquarters
Boise State Public Radio reporters are out at the GOP headquarters chatting with people and seeing how they’re feeling as results come in.
Several people such as Deanna Bates and her husband Royce Bates say they are praying for Trump to win.
It is a lively party with an estimated 250 to 300 person turnout in the main space alone, more are attending and roaming about the hotel and the other rooms that have people of interest for the public to speak with such as Idaho Senator Risch.
Outside the conference room, there has been a line to take a picture with the main person that has united these congregated.
3 things to watch tonight in Idaho
Hey, y’all. James Dawson, Boise State Public Radio’s political reporter here. I’ll be breaking down the results tonight live on-air with Troy Oppie. But I’m giving you a bit of a preview for what I’m looking for out of the dozens of races we’re covering.
These are my top three things to pay attention to:
- Will Ada County actually vote for a Democratic presidential candidate?
It’s been a very long time since Ada County, let alone Idaho, has backed a Democratic presidential candidate. Think LBJ in the 1964 election, which he won in a landslide.
That’s right – it’s been 60 years.
Population growth in the county over the past couple of decades shouldn’t be a shocker to anyone. The majority of those new Idahoans are registered Republican voters.
But GOP presidential candidates have been losing ground.
Rewind 20 years when George W. Bush crushed John Kerry 61% to 38%. But four years ago, President Joe Biden closed the gap to just a 10,000 vote deficit – 50.3% to 46.4%
- How will West Boise vote?
What an interesting legislative district. Ada County Elections says there are about 31,500 registered voters in District 15. Significantly more of them are women and the demographics generally skew younger.
The three legislative spots in this district have flip flopped from red to blue each election for the past several years.
Right now, the senate seat there is the most expensive legislative race in Idaho. It’s a rematch between incumbent Democrat Rick Just and former state Rep. Codi Galloway. Just won by just two percent in 2022.
- Does it matter that Democrats fielded so many candidates?
Democrats in Idaho are largely an afterthought when it comes to most statehouse business. That’s not to discount a handful of bills each year where they reach across the aisle to co-sponsor certain legislation.
But Democrats hold just 17 of the 105 seats.
Party leadership worked hard this year to field candidates in most districts, though. Will it matter? We’ll see later tonight.
Polls close in half an hour for most of Idaho
The polls are getting ready to close in the parts of Idaho that are in the Mountain Time Zone. If you are still in line at 8 p.m. at your polling place, you will be able to vote even if it goes past that time.
In northern Idaho, polls will close at 9 p.m. MT. Results will start to come in shortly after that, mainly those from early voting and absentee ballots.
Record turnout is expected at Idaho polling places today
Previous records were set in the 2020 presidential election, with just over 878,000 voters and 81% turnout in Idaho.
The Secretary of State’s office said earlier this afternoon that more than 600,000 Idahoans have voted, either early, absentee or in-person so far today. The secretary’s office can track real time participation data based on who checks in to vote - though not all counties have that real-time capability.
Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the 5 p.m. hour is typically the busiest at the polls, and lines to vote this evening are expected, especially in more populated areas, despite the record number of early and absentee voters.
Race for President progress
Loading...
Election Progress in Idaho
Over a half million Idahoans voted before lunch today
More than a half-million Idahoans had voted before lunch today, either in early voting, absentee or at the polls this morning.
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told media on a conference call this morning that many places experienced lines and waits this morning, but he expected those to ease through the midday leading in to what is traditionally the busiest time at any polling place.
The busiest hour of voting will be from 5 to 6 p.m.," said McGrane. "It is consistently the busiest hour because that's when everyone gets off work and they try to go to their polling locations. I do anticipate we will see lines during that hour and it will vary precinct by precinct. But any of those that have larger number of voters, you'll probably see that."
If you are in line to vote when the polls close at 8 pm local time, you will be allowed to vote.
About 25,000 people have registered at the polls so far, McGrane said. There were about 100,000 same-day registrations in 2016 and 90,000 four years ago.
McGrane said on the call he expects somewhere in that ballpark again today.
Poll workers getting ready for a long Election Day
With near record-setting early voting over, Idaho is set to head to the polls on Election Day. Most ballots will be cast on Tuesday in every corner of Idaho, with local and regional contests, every seat of the legislature, a statewide proposition and constitutional amendmnet to be decided, in addition to the presidential election.
Poll workers will be on the job well before sunrise, through the day and into the night. In Ada County, Idaho's largest election operation, County Clerk Trent Tripple said something like 1,500 poll workers will be on the job. Most of them are well experienced at this and a fair amount of people who started out wanted to know more about the process and just how secure it is.
"Some of the folks that are coming out to work with us are ones that have had questions and wanted to learn more about the elections process, so they have a vested interest in coming to find out how we actually do things," said Tripple. "And we've always encouraged people as they come and ask us questions, if the best way to learn this is to volunteer and come watch us do the process."
Looking for in-depth information? We have you covered.
What to know before heading out to vote
Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. As a reminder, Idaho has two time zones, so election results will not start coming in until after polls are closed in north Idaho, an hour after they close in the majority of the state.
When polls close, there will be an initial rush of results due to early voting and absentee ballots.
If you are not registered to vote, you can do so at the polls. All you have to do is bring your photo ID, like a drivers license or identification card, and proof of residence like a utility bills.
If you are looking for more information on how to vote, check out our voters guide: