Election 2020: Candidates for Idaho federal, state, county offices start filing March 2
Anyone interested in running for various federal, state and county political offices in Idaho needs to file a statement of candidacy form between Monday, March 2, and March 13.
Up for election this year are three of Idaho’s four federal congressional seats, all 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature and several county offices.
Federal offices up for election in Idaho include one U.S. Senate seat and both U.S. House seats. Anyone interested in running for one of these office needs to file with the Federal Election Commission and Idaho Secretary of State
The FEC filing period for these federal offices is already open and closes on Friday, March 13. Several candidates have already filed for these offices.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Risch and U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson, all Republicans, have announced they are seeking re-election. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, a Republican, is up for re-election in 2022.
To date, no Republicans have filed to challenge Risch, Simpson or Fulcher in the May GOP primary. Risch, 76, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008; Simpson, 69, was elected to the U.S. House in 1998; and Fulcher, 57, was elected in 2018. Senate terms are six years; House terms are two years.
Three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for Risch’s Senate seat, according to FEC filings: Paulette Jordan, of Plummer; Travis Oler, of Shelley; and Jim Vandermaas, of Eagle. Also running for Risch’s seat, according to the FEC, are Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz, of Coeur d’Alene, and independent candidate Natalie Fleming, of Fruitland. Democratic candidate Nancy Harris, of Boise, withdrew from the race Feb. 13 due to health reasons.
One Democrat has filed to run for Fulcher’s 1st Congressional District seat, which includes the western portion of the Treasure Valley: Rudy Soto, of Nampa. Independent candidate Joseph Evans, of Meridian, also has filed.
One Democrat has filed to challenge Rep. Mike Simpson for the 2nd Congressional District, which includes the eastern portion of the Treasure Valley: Aaron Swisher, of Boise.
Idaho’s Legislature comprises 105 members from the state’s 35 legislative districts. Each district has one senator and two representatives. All seats are up for election this year. Anyone interested in running needs to file a form with the Idaho Secretary of State.
In each of Idaho’s 44 counties, four offices are up for election this year: county commissioner districts one and two, prosecutor and sheriff. Anyone interested in running for one of these seats needs to file a candidacy form with his or her respective county clerk.
Idaho will hold a state primary on May 19 to elect the state’s Constitution, Democratic and Republican candidates for federal and state offices. The general election is Nov. 3.
The Republican state primary will be closed, meaning only voters affiliated with the Republican Party get a Republican ballot. The Democratic and Constitution primaries will be open, meaning any registered voter of any party in Idaho will be able to vote.
The deadline for registered voters to change political party affiliation for the May 19 state primary is March 13.
On the day of the primary election, same-day voter registration is allowed, and unaffiliated registered voters may affiliate with a political party.