All 35 seats in the Idaho Senate, and 70 in the Idaho House, are up for grabs in the November election. The lines around the 35 legislative districts were re-drawn last year, creating a brand-new political landscape for incumbents and challengers. We wanted to know which races were generating the most buzz.
With some help from Boise State Political Science Professor Gary Moncrief, we’ve compiled a list of seven legislative races to watch:
1. House District 2B: Democrat Dan English vs. Republican Ed Morse
This is the seat that was held by Republican Phil Hart. Hart’s years of not paying income taxes have caught up with him, he now faces hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and penalties, both state and federal, and has been in and out of court all year. Hart lost his seat in the primary to Republican Ed Morse.
Morse now faces Democrat Dan English, who is well known in North Idaho. English originally got into the race thinking he would face Hart. It's a Republican District, so English faces an uphill battle.
2. State Senate District 6: Democrat John Bradbury vs. Republican Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson is the incumbent, John Bradbury the challenger. Bradbury is a judge and is well-known in the area. Moncrief says the district leans Democratic, but is very competitive, none-the-less.
The cost of this race has topped $50,000. Bradbury has raised $22,000 to Johnson’s $31,500.
3. State Senate District 15: Democrat Betty Richardson vs. Republican Fred Martin
The District has traditionally been a Republican District, but has been moving left over time. Redistricting may have helped Republicans, but there are a couple of strong Democrats challenging in open-seat races.
The Senate seat is open, after Republican John Andreason retired. Betty Richardson is well known by Democrats. She faces Fred Martin for the open seat. This is a modestly Republican district, but BSU Political Science Professor Gary Moncrief says good, quality Democratic candidates can “make a go of it.”
4. House District 15B: Democrat Steve Berch vs. Republican Mark Patterson
Steve Berch ran in 2010 in District 14, but lost to Republican Reed DeMordaunt. Moncrief says the district has been redrawn since then and Berch may have a better chance this time against Patterson.
5. House District 18A: Democrat Janie Ward-Engelking vs. Republican Julie Ellsworth
The southeast Boise district did not change very much in redistricting. That’s important because this race is a rematch of an extremely close race two years ago. In 2010, Republican Julie Ellsworth beat Democrat Janie Ward-Engelking by just nine votes. This year, the re-match pits both well-known women against each other again.
Ward-Engelking is far ahead when it comes to raising cash. She has raised generated almost $59,000 this year. Ellsworth trails in fundraising, with just $14,500 raised.
6. State Senate District 18: Democrat Branden Durst vs. Republican Mitch Toryanski
Another rematch. In 2010, Democrat Branden Durst tried to jump from the House to the Senate seat left open by the retiring Democrat Kate Kelly. He lost to Mitch Toryanski by just 103 votes. This time, both men are putting their hat into the ring again.
It’s an expensive race. In the last year, Durst has raised almost $32,000. Toryanski has raised more than double that, with $68,000.
7. State Senate District 29: Democrat Roy Lacey vs. Republican Greg Romriell
It’s an open seat. Gary Moncrief says the district is historically Democratic, but during last year’s redrawing of the political lines, the district picked up some Republican precincts.
Roy Lacey is moving over from the House, trying for a Senate seat. He’s challenged by Greg Romriell, making it a competitive race.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio
