Idaho 2020 Primary, legislative results: 2C incumbent GOP legislators largely retain seats

All 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature are up for election this year.

Idaho is divided into 35 legislative districts among 44 counties. Each legislative district has one state senator and two state representatives. All legislative terms are two years.

Southwest Idaho comprises nine districts in Ada County, four in Canyon County and three districts comprising more than 10 additional local counties.

Ada County tweeted late Tuesday night that final results from the ballots turned into the election office today may take time to tabulate. Canyon County results have been fully reported.

Candidates for federal races, including the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and some county races, including county commission and sheriff, will also be decided tonight.

The successful primary election candidates will then go on to participate in the 2020 general election Nov. 3. The winners of the general election will be sworn into office in January for the 2021 legislative session.

Canyon County legislative results

Incumbents won big Tuesday night in Canyon County’s contested state House of Representatives and Senate races.

Sens. Jim Rice, Patti Anne Lodge, both Republicans, won over their challengers, while Reps. Ryan Kerby, Scott Syme, Rick Youngblood and Tammy Nichols all defended their seats against their Republican opponents.

Rep. Jarom Wagoner, Caldwell, however, was defeated by challenger Julie Yamamoto.

Ben Adams beat out Republican primary challengers Kim Keller and Kenny Wroten for longtime legislator Gary Collins’ seat. No Democrats filed for that race, so Adams will take over that position come January.

Coronavirus forces mail-only primary

Idaho’s 2020 primary has been unlike any previous statewide election: All voters cast their ballots absentee — by mail — instead of gathering at polling places.

Absentee voting has long been an option for Idaho voters, but for the primary, it is the only option.

The reason for a vote-by-mail-only primary is two-fold: concerns about coronavirus spread and a lack of polling places and poll workers.

The primary had been slated for May 19. When Idaho Gov. Brad Little ordered a mail-ballot only primary, May 19 became the final day to request an absentee ballot and June 2 the day ballots must be returned and counted.

But after a federal court ruling issued May 22 in response to a series of problems with the Idaho Votes website, Idahoans could request a ballot up to May 26.

This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 9:39 PM.