Northwest Nazarene University Political Scientist Steve Shaw is among those captivated by the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. But he thinks their campaign will have little, if any, effect on races for Senate, the U.S. House, the state Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment in Idaho.
But he does think the outcome of the presidential race could have an effect on what many see as the biggest Idaho race in years – the 2018 governor’s contest. That race could include at least three Republicans running in a spring primary to replace Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, who’s said he won’t run again. Former state senator Russ Fulcher and current Lt. Gov. Brad Little are already in. Many political experts believe Rep. Raul Labrador is mulling a run.
If Trump wins the White House this year, Shaw says it could have a big effect on Republican politics all over the country in both predictable and unpredictable ways.
And if Clinton wins?
“The election two years from now is two years into her term,” Shaw says. “(There’s) Nothing like galvanizing a party to have that kind of enemy, from their perspective. So I think either way, at least indirectly, it’s going to have some ripple effects on Idaho in two years.”
While Shaw says this year’s races in Idaho haven’t generated a lot of excitement in state politics, he says the Republican nomination for governor in two years could be a “battle royal.”
For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915
Copyright 2016 Boise State Public Radio