Who’s running in Idaho Legislature’s District 23 primary? It’s a rematch
Two Republicans from Kuna who faced off in 2024 will return to the ballot on May 19 in the legislative District 23 primary.
The rematch pits incumbent Rep. Chris Bruce against Melissa Durrant, who held the position for one term until Bruce bested her in the 2024 primary and went on to take the seat.
The contest then was decided by fewer than 100 votes.
Now, Republican voters in the district, which covers Owyhee County and parts of southern Ada and Canyon counties, will have to choose between the pair again.
Bruce, who is also the president of the Kuna City Council, is seeking his second term in the Legislature. Bruce is listed as a loan officer on Meridian company Premier Mortgage Resources’ website.
On his campaign website, Bruce writes that he is “running for re-election to ensure Idaho remains the ‘last bastion of American freedom.’” He lists priority issues including the Second Amendment, stopping illegal immigration and school choice.
Durrant is a speech language pathologist in the Kuna School District, according to her campaign website. She lists education and protecting water resources in the district as priorities.
Money mattered in the 2024 matchup. A Texas-based lobbying group, the American Federation for Children, spent $400,000 during that election cycle, primarily to target Republican candidates over opposition to a private school tax credit bill, the Statesman reported. One of its top targets: Durrant.
This election cycle, the group’s AFC Victory Fund has spent nearly $45,000 to oppose Durrant, relying on a type of campaign spending that has no limit, according to campaign finance data from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office. The political action committee has made “independent expenditures,” which are funds that cannot be coordinated with a campaign. By comparison, both candidates in the race have raised and spent considerably less.
According to the data, Durrant has raised just shy of $14,900 this election cycle and spent nearly $6,800. Bruce has raised nearly $18,800, and spent nearly $2,400.
Bruce was also supported by more than $18,100 in independent expenditures from political action committees. That includes more than $17,200 from a new committee funded by Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene.
The winner of the May 19 primary will go on to face Democratic candidate Emily Fisher and Constitution candidate Paul M. Smith in the November general election.
The Statesman sent questionnaires to the candidates for a last-minute addition to its May Voter Guide, giving each roughly a day and a half to respond. Bruce said he was unable to complete the questionnaire on that tighter timeline — the Statesman usually gives candidates about a week to respond.
Durrant’s responses are presented below, unedited.
To learn more about this and other local races, go to IdahoStatesman.com/Election.
