Still undecided in Tuesday’s election? Here are Idaho Statesman’s endorsements
With Election Day Tuesday, the Idaho Statesman editorial board has been interviewing several candidates in federal, state and local races that will be on the ballot.
We asked federal candidates about such important issues as gun control, the federal budget deficit and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 2021.
Statewide, we interviewed the candidates for governor, attorney general, lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction on a host of issues about public education funding, election integrity and abortion.
Similarly, we asked several legislative candidates about their positions on education funding, school vouchers, gay marriage, property taxes and sales tax on groceries.
We even interviewed all of the candidates for Ada County Commission and asked them about budgeting priorities, how to address homelessness, the decision to appoint Ryan Cole to the Central District Health board, and the development of Expo Idaho and the county fairgrounds.
In all, we interviewed more than two dozen candidates in more than a dozen races, and are weighing in on a constitutional amendment and an advisory vote on the ballot.
Following is a rundown of our endorsements and recommendations. Click on each link to read our full endorsements and reasoning.
Idaho governor: Brad Little
We continue to believe that incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little could cement a legacy as one of Idaho’s greatest governors, with a little bit of courage, vision and boldness. But we also know that he has missed opportunities to show those traits when they were needed. Little is facing a challenge from Democrat Stephen Heidt, a veteran, retired teacher and prison instructor from Marsing.
Read our full endorsement here.
Idaho lieutenant governor: Scott Bedke
Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke, a Republican, is facing off against Democrat Terri Pickens Manweiler. Both are highly qualified, and we found ourselves agreeing with Pickens Manweiler on a host of issues. We are concerned that Bedke has kowtowed to the far right wing of his party too much, leading to a burgeoning of extremism in the party and the Legislature, but he also has been a valuable politician.
Read our endorsement in this race here.
U.S. Senate: David Roth
Idaho’s senior senator, Mike Crapo, has been in elected office for nearly four decades, three of which were spent in Washington, D.C. This year, Crapo’s Democratic challenger is David Roth, an Idaho Falls man whose previous political experience consists mainly of heading the Bonneville County Democratic Party and launching an unsuccessful local legislative race.
Read our full endorsement here.
Idaho’s 1st Congressional District: Kaylee Peterson
The decision to endorse Kaylee Peterson was not a hard one. For starters, there was no way we could endorse Rep. Russ Fulcher. Fulcher refused to be interviewed by the editorial board, and we do not endorse candidates who do not have the commitment to transparency to answer basic questions. And, more fundamentally, Fulcher betrayed his country in the wake of the 2020 election. He voted to object to the certification of the election, not because there were any serious questions about its legitimacy, but for political reasons. It was dishonest. It was cowardly. It should disqualify him from office.
Read our full endorsement here.
Idaho attorney general: Tom Arkoosh
If elected Idaho attorney general, Republican Raúl Labrador promises to be a ultra-conservative partner with the Republican-dominated Legislature. We have no doubt he would be. And that’s what worries us. It is clear that Labrador would base decisions on partisan politics and become an activist attorney general seeking to strip individual rights based on the latest Republican outrage or culture war issue.
Read our full endorsement in the race here.
Idaho superintendent of public instruction: Debbie Critchfield
Idaho voters have two excellent choices in the race for Idaho superintendent of public instruction. Republican Debbie Critchfield, who defeated incumbent Sherri Ybarra in the May primary, is facing Democrat Terry Gilbert.
Read our endorsement in this race here.
Ada County Commission: Stan Ridgeway and Patricia Nilsson
Incumbent commissioner Rod Beck voted to strip funding from the successful New Path housing program and appointed Ryan Cole to the Central District Health board. Thomas Dayley, as state legislator in 2016, voted to cap the homeowners exemption, a fateful decision that has created today’s residential property tax crisis.
Stan Ridgeway and Patricia Nilsson are running against them. You can read the full endorsement here.
Idaho Senate, District 15: Rick Just
Democrat Rick Just and Republican Codi Galloway are running for an open Senate seat in Boise’s purple District 15, seeking to replace Fred Martin, whom Galloway ran to the right of and defeated in the Republican primary.
Galloway, who wouldn’t interview with the editorial board, voted as a state representative for a bill to criminalize librarians and favors school vouchers.
Read our full endorsement here.
Idaho House, District 15A: Steve Berch
Idaho Rep. Steve Berch earns the Idaho Statesman’s resounding endorsement for reelection to his House seat in Idaho legislative District 15. The Democrat is running against Republican Steve Keyser, who did not respond through his website or via email to invitations to interview with the editorial board. The Statesman will not endorse someone who does not agree to an interview. Regardless, Berch has proved himself as an effective legislator. The retired computer programmer and marketing manager for HP has served two terms in the House in District 15.
Even if Republicans jam really bad legislation through committee or through the House, Berch makes them earn it.
Read our full endorsement of Steve Berch here.
Idaho House, District 15B: Jeff Nafsinger
The race for Idaho House seat B in District 15 features two newcomers: Democrat Jeff Nafsinger and Republican Dori Healey.
Nafsinger has deep roots in the local area. He’s worked for many years selling plumbing supplies — the kind of work that gets you out in the community, where you get to understand the problems facing a wide variety of Idahoans. And it shows. Nafsinger has a clear vision of the problems facing Idaho, and he has articulate proposals to solve them.
Read our full endorsement in this race here.
State Senate, District 16: Ali Rabe
Democrat Ali Rabe is seeking her second Senate seat, but this isn’t a reelection campaign. Rabe moved out of her previous legislative District 17, where she was elected to the Senate, and now lives in District 16. She is running for the open District 16 Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Grant Burgoyne, a Democrat who is endorsing Rabe.
Read our full endorsement here.
State House, District 16A: Soñia Galaviz
Democrat Soñia Galaviz, Republican Mark Montoya and independent Wayne Richey are running for this open seat in the House, previously held by Democrat John McCrostie. Galaviz presents a singularly compelling case for voters in the race for the District 16A seat in the Idaho House. Our editorial board unanimously endorses her in this election. Read our full endorsement here.
Senate Joint Resolution 102: No
Idaho legislators want you to pass a constitutional amendment that would let them call themselves into a special session for whatever reason they want, whenever they want. The amendment, which appears on your ballot as Senate Joint Resolution 102, requires just a majority to pass. This one is a resounding “no” from us. We have a long list of objections:
Read our long list of objections here.
Advisory question: Yes
Even though it’s a trap that’s poorly worded, you should still vote “yes” on an advisory question that will hold legislators’ feet to the fire on education spending. Read our full editorial here explaining why.
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, assistant editor 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.
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