Update: Idaho GOP maintains supermajority in Legislature; partisan split stays the same

Next year’s Idaho Legislature will look familiar.

Idaho voters on Tuesday chose all 105 members of the Legislature, the government branch that crafts public policy and controls the state’s budget.

After nearly all votes were counted across the state Wednesday afternoon, unofficial results showed that Republicans and Democrats traded losses in toss-up districts in Boise, Moscow, Pocatello and Central Idaho.

The result: The Idaho Senate will have 28 Republicans and seven Democrats, while the House will have 58 Republicans and a dozen Democrats — the same partisan splits as the current Legislature.

“Idaho gave a resounding answer to the question of who should be trusted to right our economy, run our schools, protect our streets, and manage our state’s resources,” Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon said in a news release. “I’m proud of our Republican candidates who defended our party’s principles and clearly communicated our ideas to the people of Idaho.”

Despite Tuesday’s partisan consistency, the Legislature will see significant turnover. After redistricting pitted incumbents from the same party against each other and some lawmakers lost reelection bids during the May primary, just 60 current lawmakers are set to return to the Statehouse next year.

In the GOP primary, conservative newcomers displaced a number of more moderate Republicans, particularly in the Senate. That body in recent years has been a backstop to the more conservative House, blocking House legislation targeting COVID-19 restrictions and election access as well as bills to limit library books and restrict medical care for transgender youth.

The Senate lost most of its committee leaders this year. Five Senate committee chairmen — Sens. Jeff Agenbroad, R-Nampa; Fred Martin, R-Boise; Jim Rice, R-Caldwell; Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls; and Steven Thayn, R-Emmett — lost primary bids. That’s on top of Sens. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, and Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, both committee chairs, retiring this year.

Democrats retain seats; GOP keeps supermajority

Republicans currently control 86 seats in the Legislature, and they’ll maintain that supermajority, thanks to dominant victories in North and East Idaho and Canyon and Twin Falls counties, along with key wins in swing districts.

Democrats also kept valuable seats in districts that became toss-ups thanks to redistricting.

West Boise’s District 15 Senate race pitted conservative Republican Rep. Codi Galloway against Democrat Rick Just, who was endorsed by the GOP senator currently holding that seat, Fred Martin. Just edged Galloway in one of the state’s closest contests, winning by 327 votes, according to unofficial results.

Also in District 15, Democrat Rep. Steve Berch held onto his House seat by more than 1,000 votes, and Republican newcomer Dori Healey won by a similar margin for the other House seat.

Overall, Republicans performed well in Ada County, sweeping races in Meridian and Eagle. Republican Meridian City Council Member Treg Bernt collected 83% of votes against a Constitution Party candidate. He announced Wednesday that he’ll resign his City Council seat effective Dec. 31.

“I am committed to the state and my role as senator to best serve the interests of Meridian,” Bernt said in a news release. “As District 21 senator, I will still be representing Meridian and carrying the voice of my constituents to the Statehouse, and look forward to continuing to advocate for the Meridian community.”

In local races, GOP Ada County Commission candidates won both of their races, as did Republican candidates for sheriff and assessor. All three Ada County commissioners will be Republican.

“I really commend the Ada County Republican Party for their ground game,” House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday. “They have really stepped up, and I think that that will show.”

In Central Idaho, moderate Republican Rep. Laurie Lickley looked to steal a seat from Democrats as Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett retires. The historically liberal district’s boundaries shifted last year, picking up more conservative Jerome County.

But Lickley lost to Democrat Ron Taylor by more than 1,000 votes amid a Democratic sweep of the new District 26. Rep. Ned Burns won reelection, and newcomer Karma Metzler Fitzgerald secured the second House seat for the minority party.

“We won’t be able to change Idaho overnight,” Idaho Democratic Party Chair and House Assistant Minority Leader Lauren Necochea told the Statesman on Tuesday. “We put together the most robust coordinated campaign in our party’s history, we outraised the Idaho Republican Party two to one and we’re seeing more and more Idaho Republicans moving to vote for our candidates.”

Meanwhile, in Pocatello, Democrat Rep. James Ruchti decisively won his bid to claim a Senate seat formerly held by Sen. Mark Nye, a Democrat, who died this year, according to unofficial results.

Democrats and Republicans split the two Pocatello House seats. Republican Rep. Dustin Manwaring won reelection, while Democrat Nate Roberts claimed the other seat.

Moscow was less friendly to Democrats. Republicans swept Moscow’s District 6, according to unofficial results. Former Republican lawmaker Dan Foreman will return to the Statehouse after defeating Democratic Sen. David Nelson by 391 votes.

GOP Reps. Lori McCann and Brandon Mitchell decisively won reelection against Democratic opponents, each winning by thousands of votes.

Idaho lawmakers serve two-year terms, starting with January’s legislative session.