| Primary
election is Tuesday
The statewide primary election is set for next Tuesday, May 15 with contested races on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. For Idaho County offices there are no Democratic candidates and all the Republican incumbents are unopposed. For the District 7 legislative seats Carl Crabtree is unopposed for state senate on the Republican ballot. Incumbent state representative, Position A, Priscilla Giddings is facing a challenge from Shannon McMillan, who she defeated for the post 2 years ago and Ryan A. Lawrence. Incumbent state representative, Position B, Paul Shepherd is facing a challenge from Phil Hart, a former District 3 representative who moved into District 7. In both representative races, the challengers are mostly seeking to give representation to the northern portion of the sprawling District 7 which reaches from south of Riggins all the way to the Wallace area. Hart’s name was on the ballot, then taken off on a ruling by Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, then put back on as of Monday, May 7 due to a court challenge. There are no candidates for any of the legislative positions on the Democratic ballot. U.S Representative and Governor are the races that drew the most candidates. Incumbent Congressman Raul Labrador is resigning his seat to run for Governor. In the campaign to replace him are 7 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Republican candidates are Russ Fulcher, a former state legislator who ran for Governor 4 years ago, Alex Gallegos, Nick Henderson, former lieutenant governor David Leroy, Luke Malek, Christy Perry and Michael Snyder. Democrats running are Christina McNeil, Michael W. Smith and James Vandermaas. Governor also has 7 Republican candidates and 3 Democrats vying to replace retiring Governor Butch Otter. Republicans running are Labrador, Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, Tommy Ahlquist, Harley Brown, Dalton Cannady, Lisa Marie and Steve Pankey. Democrats running are A.J. Balukoff, who also ran 4 years ago, Peter Dill and Paulette Jordan. Lieutenant Governor has 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats looking to replace Little, who is running for Governor. Republican candidates are Marv Hagedorn, Janice McGeachin, Bob Nonini, Kelley Packer and Steve Yates. Democrats are Kristin Collum and Jim Fabe. Incumbent Denney is running unopposed on the Republican ballot for Secretary of State with Democrats Joseph J.P. Chastain and Jill Humble vying to face Denney in November. Incumbent Brandon D. Woolf is running unopposed for State Controller on the Republican ballot with no Democrats on the ballot. 3 Republicans are vying for State Treasurer. They are Julie A. Ellsworth, Tom Kenly and Vicky J. McIntyre. They are vying to replace incumbent Ron Crane. There are no Democrats on the ballot. Incumbent Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is running unopposed in the Republican Primary with Democrat Bruce S. Bistline looking to oppose him in November. For Superintendent of Public Instruction, incumbent Sherri Ybarra is facing a challenge from Jeff Dillon on the Republican ballot. Democrats Allen Humble and Cindy Wilson are vying to be their party’s nominee. There are also several judicial races with none of them featuring a contested race. Supreme Court Justice G. Richard Bevan is running unopposed. David W. Gratton and Jessica M. Lorello are both running unopposed for the positions as Judges of the Court of Appeals. Second Judicial District Court Judges Gregory FitzMaurice, Jay Gaskill, John R. Stegner and Jeff M. Brudie are all seeking re-election and are unopposed. Below are the sample ballots: 
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