Idaho Republicans blame primary losses on Democrats. Here’s how they want to fight it

Idaho voters who have supported Constitution, Democratic or Libertarian candidates in the last two years may have a probationary period before they can vote in a Republican primary election.

A proposed Idaho GOP Party rule would block voters from registering as Republicans if they were affiliated with, or donated to, a party other than the GOP 25 months before a primary election. It would also disqualify unaffiliated voters from participating in the GOP primary if they haven’t registered as Republicans within a year of becoming eligible voters.

About 60% of more than 600 Republican delegates supported the proposal at the GOP State Convention on Friday in Twin Falls. The rule would disqualify voters who have donated to two or more non-GOP candidates in the roughly two years before the primary. That includes Constitution and Libertarian candidates, but the proposal is aimed primarily at Democrats.

“We have a problem. They want to come into our party,” Branden Durst, the sponsor of the proposal and a former Democrat, told the delegates Friday. “What we need is the dedicated folks of the Republican Party, the people who are dedicated to staying Republican — not just choosing to be Republican every two years.”

Durst and other Republicans who lost primary election bids in May blamed their defeats on Democrats switching their party affiliation to vote in the GOP primary. Durst unsuccessfully ran for superintendent of public instruction.

Fewer than 3,800 Democrats switched their party affiliation to Republican in the month before the deadline, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. The Idaho GOP closed its primary election in 2012, so only registered Republicans qualify to vote.

There was little debate on the proposal, which does not specify how it would be enforced. One delegate who opposed the rule said it would be a public relations disaster that would shut out potential voters who are trending conservative, such as single moms and Hispanic voters.

The Idaho GOP state central committee will likely vote on the rule change in January.

The state convention wraps up Saturday with party leadership elections.