Idaho Statesman endorses Rudy Soto for U.S. House in the Democratic primary

Rudy Soto has an impressive background: a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, congressional staffer in Washington, D.C., legislative director for the National Indian Gaming Association.

Born and raised in Nampa, Soto is the son of a Mexican immigrant and a first-generation college graduate.

Because of his prior work in Washington, his familiarity with the federal government, his positions on the issues and his proven ability to fund a competitive campaign, the Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Soto in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House seat representing Idaho’s 1st Congressional District.

His opponent in the primary, Staniela Nikolova, of Moscow, holds degrees from the University of Idaho in psychology, biochemistry and molecular biology. She previously ran for this seat in 2016 and finished third in a three-way primary. Nikolova impressed our editorial board with her passion about the issues and her genuine desire to solve problems related to student debt and health care affordability. She identifies as socially progressive and advocates for raising the minimum wage and providing free health and dental care to all children.

Both Nikolova and Soto discuss issues that will play to the Democratic base, such as criminal justice reform, green energy and improving education. Soto offers a more well-rounded platform that will appeal to more voters when he talks about transportation and infrastructure investments, as well as helping veterans and preserving rural and reservation communities.

Soto was at his best during our interview when he talked about his reason for running: His father, laid off from his factory job, lost his health insurance, got sick and was diagnosed with cancer. Because his cancer was considered a “preexisting condition,” his father was unable to purchase health insurance and had to rely on painkillers as he struggled to obtain affordable treatment in time. He died just months later.

“I put that pain and sense of purpose into the work I was doing as a policy analyst and traveling to other states across the country to help other people get enrolled in (health insurance plans),” he told the editorial board.

He said he was inspired to run for political office when 60% of Idahoans passed Medicaid expansion in 2018.

That vote “was deeply inspiring to me, and it made me believe in the potential here for a candidate to put themselves forth in a way that people would be open to.”

No surprise, then, that health care is one of Soto’s top priorities.

“Almost 28 million people in the U.S. are uninsured, and the average American with insurance pays $3,414 to cover the costs every year,” according to Soto’s website. “No one should have to spend that much just to lead a healthy life.”

Soto said transportation and infrastructure would also be top priorities if he is elected, and he vowed to work across party lines to improve funding for roads, bridges and public transit systems.

Soto also bravely lists immigration reform as a priority, a political hot potato that nonetheless needs to be addressed.

Soto said he would work to create more pathways to legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. That may be a tough sell in Idaho, but he comes at it from a unique perspective, as the son of a Mexican immigrant who worked multiple jobs to support his family. He also approaches the issue from a pragmatic position, noting the number of immigrant workers in Idaho and their contribution to the state’s economy.

In addition, Soto said he supports humane policies that strengthen and secure our borders.

Soto raised $31,000 in the first quarter of 2020 and a total of $54,000 for his campaign so far. Money shouldn’t be so important, but it’s a fact of political life, and defeating an incumbent usually requires a lot of money.

Whoever wins the primary will likely face the incumbent, Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, who has $119,000 in cash on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Soto’s ability to raise money cannot be discounted, if Democrats seek to put up a fight in November.

Soto is an unpolished gem that needs some more polishing. He is not as adept as his primary opponent in speaking extemporaneously and passionately about the issues. He will need those skills in presenting and debating during the campaign leading up to the November election. One on one, Soto is authentic, engaged and eloquent. He will need to learn to transfer that personal touch to larger audiences.

Once he masters that, Soto promises to be a formidable political opponent who very well could wrest control of this House seat from the Republican Party.

This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.