Pro-public education candidates faired relatively well in Tuesday’s primary election, mostly beating back extreme opponents allied with the enemies of public schools.
In races for statewide offices, most candidates endorsed by the IEA’s Political Action Committee for Educationwon their race and earned a spot on November’s general election ballot. Here’s a quick rundown of the statewide offices on the ballot and the IEA endorsed candidates who won their primary election race in Tuesday’s election:
- Governor — Brad Little, the GOP incumbent seeking his second term
- Lieutenant Governor — Scott Bedke, the current Republican Speaker of the Idaho House
- Secretary of State — Phil McGrane, current GOP Ada County Clerk
- Superintendent of Public Instruction — Terry Gilbert, unopposed Democrat and former IEA President
One key statewide exception to IEA-endorse candidate victories was in the Republican nomination for attorney general, where the long-time incumbent Lawrence Wasden, IEA’s endorsed candidate, was beaten by right-wing Republican and former U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador.
“We look forward to a hearty debate on the issues between GOP winner Debbie Critchfield and former IEA President Terry Gilbert, the Democratic nominee and IEA’s endorsed candidate in the general election,” said IEA President Layne McInelly in an email to IEA members earlier this week.
In the races for seats in the Idaho Legislature, the big news was the rightward shift of the Idaho Senate and the slight moderation of the House of Representatives.
A number of moderate lawmakers in the Senate were defeated including Senate Education Committee Chairman Steven Thayne (R-Emmett) and Sen. Jim Woodward (R-Sagle), also a member of the Senate Education Committee.
The Idaho Secretary of State’s website offers a comprehensive breakdown of primary election results.
A number of bond issues and supplemental levies for Idaho school districts were also on Tuesday’s ballot. CLICK HERE to see media coverage of those results