The 2014 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Idaho, concurrently with the election to Idaho's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican governor Butch Otter ran for election to a third consecutive term in office. In primary elections held on May 20, 2014, Otter was renominated and the Democrats nominated businessman and president of the Boise School District Board of Trustees A.J. Balukoff. Otter defeated Balukoff and four Independent and Third Party challengers in the general election.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Walt Bayes, perennial candidate Harley Brown, candidate for Idaho's 1st congressional district in 2000 and 2010 and candidate for Mayor of Boise in 2001 Russ Fulcher, state senator and future U.S. Representative from Idaho's 1st congressional district Butch Otter, incumbent governor Declined Raúl Labrador, U.S. representative Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor of Idaho Tom Luna, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Rex Rammell, activist, veterinarian and candidate for governor in 2010 Lawrence Wasden, Attorney General of Idaho Endorsements
Primary debate + 2014 Idaho gubernatorial Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Butch Otter Russ Fulcher Harley Brown Walt Bayes1 May 13, 2014 IdahoPTV Melissa Davlin PBS
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared A.J. Balukoff, businessman and president of the Boise School District Board of TrusteesPopkey, Dan. Idaho Statesman, December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. (accessed December 3, 2013) Terry Kerr, former Republican candidate for local office
Declined Keith G. Allred, activist, mediator and nominee for governor in 2010 Cecil D. Andrus, former governor and former United States Secretary of the Interior David H. Bieter, Mayor of Boise
Endorsements
Results
Constitution nomination
Nominated Steven Pankey, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010.
Libertarian nomination Nominated John Bujak, former Canyon County prosecutor
Independents Declared Jill Humble, retired nurse educator and candidate for Boise City Council in 2013 Pro-Life (formerly known as Marvin Richardson), organic strawberry farmer, anti-abortion activist and perennial candidate
General election
Debates + 2014 Idaho gubernatorial election debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic LibertarianKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Butch Otter A.J. Balukoff John Bujak1 September 24, 2014 Twin Falls Times-News Autumn Phillips C-SPAN 2 October 29, 2014 IdahoPTV Melissa Davlin PBS
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ButchOtter (R) A.J.Balukoff (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 2, 2014 1,001 ± 3.1% 49% 37% 10%John Bujak (L) 5%, Jill Humble (I) 1%, Pro Life (I) 2%, Steve Pankey (C) 2% 5% 55% 42% — 3%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 575 ± 6% 53% 35% 2% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 522 ± 4.3% 39% 35% 12%John Bujak (L) 4%, Jill Humble (I) 3%, Pro Life (I) 3%, Steve Pankey (C) 2% 14% 47% 38% — 15%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 594 ± 5% 57% 33% 1% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 844 ± 4% 51% 33% 3% 13%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 691 ± 4.2% 56% 34% 4% 7%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 28–29, 2014 750 ± 4% 50% 36% 8% 7%
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Ada (largest municipality: Boise) Bannock (largest municipality: Pocatello)
By congressional district Otter won both congressional districts. District Otter Balukoff Representative 57% 35%Raúl Labrador 50% 42%Mike Simpson
References
External links Idaho gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney
Official campaign websites (Archived) Butch Otter for Governor incumbent Russ Fulcher for Governor A.J. Balukoff for Governor Steve Pankey for Governor Pro-Life for Governor