This key Idaho legislative race pits two factions in Republican Party. Here’s our pick
If there’s one place where Republican primary voters could make the most ground on turning the Idaho House away from extremism, it’s in Madison County in eastern Idaho. There, former Rep. Britt Raybould is seeking to retake a seat she lost to Rep. Ron Nate two years ago.
Nate is also in many ways the intellectual leader of the far-right in the Idaho House. As a Brigham Young University-Idaho economics professor, he is able to put an intellectual veneer on propaganda attacking Idaho’s public schools and universities.
Raybould represents an older brand of conservatism, focused not on ideological purity but on careful, considered action and service to her constituents. Her belief is that sweeping changes can have unintended consequences and that there is wisdom baked into existing practices and institutions.
Both Nate and Raybould have experience serving in the House. And though Nate served there longer, Raybould has proven the more effective lawmaker.
In her prior term in the Legislature from 2018 to 2020, Raybould carefully focused on issues that affect the constituents in her district. Like her grandfather Dell, who preceded her in representing Madison County, Raybould put particular focus on agriculture — the economic engine of her district. She has put particular focus on improving eastern Idaho’s aquifer recharge system, a key step toward ensuring the region is protected from water calls.
Nate, for his part, said his greatest accomplishment was a bill that required doctors to give women seeking abortions a list of addresses and phone numbers. His intention was that this list would be a set of crisis pregnancy centers, which are run by anti-abortion activists who counsel women against abortion. But that’s not written into the law, so absolutely anyone was able to submit an address and phone number to the Department of Health and Welfare through a web form, and doctors would be forced to give it out.
This is a persistent feature of Nate’s career. He has strong beliefs. He is quite intelligent. But for all the time he has spent in the Legislature, he has had almost no success in crafting policies and winning majority support for them. Instead, he throws legislative temper tantrums: forcing budget bills to be read at length, making the same motion every day to pull the same dead bill out of committee instead of finding one that can win majority support.
Nate’s approach amounts to legislating as performance art.
Raybould rightly points out that this is especially true in the case of budgets. After complaining loudly for many years about Idaho’s budgeting process, Nate was given a coveted seat on the budget-setting Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. And after serving there a long time, he continues to vote in the minority against passing budgets.
Nate’s explanation is that he refuses to compromise his principles: If there are line items he doesn’t approve of, he’ll vote against a budget. But Raybould poses the right response: Why is Nate unable to convince his colleagues to craft budgets he can support?
Raybould has one key asset that her district needs in the coming years: a deep and thorough understanding of the complexities of water policy. As Idaho continues to fall deeper into a drought that has overtaken the entire West, the continued economic viability of eastern Idaho depends on access to water for farmers, cities and industry.
Eastern Idaho’s access to water is perhaps the most fraught in the state: dependent on groundwater pumping rights issued in the 1950s, nearly always junior to surface water rights that fuel agriculture in the Magic Valley. Raybould, who has worked in her family’s agricultural operations for years, understands these challenges acutely.
These are practical, complex solutions that demand Raybould’s brand of hard work and pragmatism. They demand someone who can build consensus, not the person who can scream the loudest.
For her commitment to pragmatism and problem-solving, rather than attention-grabbing theatrics, Raybould has our endorsement.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
Want your say?
Readers are encouraged to express their thoughts by submitting a letter to the editor. Click on “Submit a letter or opinion” at idahostatesman.com/opinion.
Want more opinions each week?
Subscribe to The Idaho Way weekly email newsletter, a collection of editorials, columns, guest opinions and letters to the editor from the Opinion section of the Idaho Statesman each week. You can sign up for The Idaho Way here.