A general election was held in the U.S. state of Idaho on November 4, 2014. All of Idaho's executive offices were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and both of Idaho's two seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014.
Federal United States Senate
Incumbent Republican senator Jim Risch ran for re-election to a second term in office.
Boise attorney Nels Mitchell won the Democratic nomination.
United States House of Representatives
Both of Idaho's two seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014. Both incumbents, Raúl Labrador and Mike Simpson won re-election handily.
Governor
Incumbent Republican Governor Butch Otter won a third term in office.
He was challenged in the Republican primary by State Senator Russ Fulcher. Otter defeated Fulcher 51% to 44%. Perennial candidate Walt Bayes and candidate for Idaho's 1st congressional district in 2000 and 2010 and candidate for Mayor of Boise in 2001 Harley Brown took 2% and 3%, respectively.
A.J. Balukoff, a businessman and President of the Boise School District Board of TrusteesPopkey, Dan. "Democrat Balukoff joins race for governor", Idaho Statesman, December 3, 2013. comfortably defeated Terry Kerr, a former Republican candidate for local office, for the Democratic nomination.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Brad Little was elected to a second term in office.
Republican primary Candidates Brad Little, incumbent lieutenant governor. Jim Chmelik, Idaho County Commissioner.
Primary debate + 2018 Idaho lieutenant gubernatorial Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Brad Little Jim Chmelik1 May 8, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Primary results
Democratic primary Nominee Bert Marley, former state senator and candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2006.
Primary results
Constitution nominee David Hartigan
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BradLittle (R) BertMarley (D) DavidHartigan (C) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 2, 2014 1,001 ± 3.1% 56% 30% 7% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 522 ± 4.3% 42% 25% 12% 20%
Debate + 2018 Idaho lieutenant gubernatorial election debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Brad Little Bert Marley1 October 29, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Results
Attorney general
Incumbent Republican attorney general Lawrence Wasden was elected to a fourth term in office.
Republic primary Candidates Lawrence Wasden, incumbent attorney general. C.T. "Chris" Troupis, attorney.
Primary debate + 2014 Idaho attorney general Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Lawrence Wasden Chris Troupis1 April 30, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Primary results
Democratic Nominee Nominated Bruce Bistline, attorney.
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror LawrenceWasden (R) BruceBistline (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 2, 2014 1,001 ± 3.1% 64% 27% 9%Public Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 522 ± 4.3% 52% 26% 22%
Results
Secretary of State
Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Ben Ysursa did not run for re-election to a fourth term in office.Popkey, Dan. "Ysursa won't run for re-election as Idaho secretary of state" Idaho Statesman, November 8, 2013. Former Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives Lawerence Denney won the Republican primary and would go on to win in November.
Treasurer
Incumbent Republican treasurer Ron Crane won a fifth term in office.
Republican Nominee Nominated Ron Crane, incumbent treasurer.
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Deborah Silver, accountant. W. Lane Startin, freelance writer and Green Party nominee for Nevada's 1st congressional district in 2002.
Primary debate + 2014 Idaho attorney general Democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Deborah Silver W. Lane Startin1 May 1, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Primary results
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RonCrane (R) DeborahSilver (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 2, 2014 1,001 ± 3.1% 55% 36% 9%Public Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 522 ± 4.3% 46% 32% 22%
Debate + 2014 Idaho state treasurer election debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Ron Crane Deborah Silver1 October 14, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Results
Controller
Incumbent Republican controller Brandon Woolf was appointed by Governor Otter in 2012 after Donna Jones resigned following an automobile accident. No Democrat filed to run for this race.
Republican primary Candidates Brandon Woolf, incumbent controller. Todd Hatfield, former vice chairman of the Idaho Republican Party and candidate for controller in 2010.
Primary debate + 2014 Idaho state controller Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Brandon Woolf Todd Hatfield1 May 1, 2014 IdahoPTV Melissa Davlin PBS
Primary results
General election
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna did not run for re-election to a third term in office.
Republican Primary Declared candidates John Eynon, teacher. Andrew Grover, Melba School District Superintendent. Randy Jensen, middle school principal from American Falls. Sherri Ybarra, educator.
Declined Roger Quarles, former chief deputy superintendent. Steve Smylie, former state representative. Melinda Smyser, former state senator. Steven Thayn, state representative. Jeffrey Thompson, state representative. Heather Williams, Gooding School District Superintendent.
Primary debate + 2014 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Sherri Ybarra Randy Jensen Andrew Grover John Eynon1 May 7, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Primary results
Democratic Nominee Nominated Jana Jones, former chief deputy superintendent and Democratic nominee in 2006.
Primary results
General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror SherriYbarra (R) JanaJones (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 2, 2014 1,001 ± 3.1% 46% 45% 9%Public Policy Polling October 9–12, 2014 522 ± 4.3% 41% 38% 21%
Debate + 2014 Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction election debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Sherri Ybarra Jana Jones1 October 20, 2014 IdahoPTV Aaron Kunz PBS
Results
By congressional district Despite losing the election, Jones won the second congressional district.Google Docs District Ybarra Jones Representative 56% 44%Raúl Labrador 45% 55%Mike Simpson
Judicial seats Supreme Court Two incumbent justices on the Idaho Supreme Court were up for election.
Justice Warren Jones who has been serving since 2007 ran unopposed and won another term. On the other hand, justice Joel Horton faced a challenger.
Horton's seat
Horton was challenged by Boise attorney William "Breck" Seiniger in his bid for re-election. He won with 65% of the votes, allowing him to serve another six-year term on the court.
Candidates Joel Horton, incumbent justice. William "Breck" Seiniger, attorney.
Debate + 2014 Idaho Supreme Court election debate Date Host Moderator Link Nonpartisan NonpartisanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Joel Horton William Seiniger1 May 8, 2014 IdahoPTV Melissa Davlin PBS
Results
Court of Appeals Incumbent Idaho Court of Appeals judge Sergio Gutierrez ran unopposed and secured another term.
State legislature All 35 seats of the Idaho Senate and 70 seats of the Idaho House of Representatives were up for election.
Idaho Senate Party Before After Change Republican 28 28 Democratic 7 7 Total 35 35
Idaho House of Representatives Party Before After Change Republican 57 56 1 Democratic 13 14 1 Total 70 70
Ballot measure HJR 2 (2014)
The Idaho Legislative Delegation of Rulemaking Amendment, HJR 2 sought to empower the state legislature to delegate rulemaking authorities to executive agencies and to approve or reject the administrative rules devised by those agencies. It was narrowly defeated by a margin of four thousand votes.
See also Elections in Idaho Politics of Idaho Political party strength in Idaho
References