The closest race voted on by local voters in the Nov. 8 election was for 2^nd District Judge where Michelle Evans narrowly defeated John Bradbury 16,754 to 16,612 or 50.21% to 49.79%. Idaho County actually favored Bradbury 3,595 to 2,572.
In the statewide races Republican Governor Brad Little held off the challenges of Democrat Stephen Heidt and independent Ammon Bundy. Little had 357,947 votes or 60.51%. Heidt received 120,083, 20.30% and Bundy received 101,568 or 17.17%. In Idaho County Little received 4,834 votes, Bundy was second with 1,816 and Heidt was third with 638.
The closest statewide race was for Attorney General where Republican Raul Labrador polled 366,755 votes to 219,244 for Democrat Tom Arkoosh, 62.59% to 37.41%.
Republican Scott Bedke was elected as the new Lieutenant Governor with 375,452 votes to 178,010 for Terri Pickens Manweiler, 64.38% to 30.51%.
Republican Phil McGrane was elected as the new Secretary of State with 418,076 votes, 72.45%, to 158,968 for Democrat Shawn Keenan.
Republican Debbie Critchfield was elected as the Superintendent of Public Instruction with 403,617 votes, 69.76%, to 174,934 for Democrat Terry Gilbert, 30.24%.
Republican Brandon Woolf was re-elected as State Controller with 404,116 votes, 69.48%, to 156,133 for Democrat Dianna David, 26.84%.
Republican Julie Ellsworth was re-elected as State Treasurer with 411,535 votes, 71.08%, to 167,479 for Democrat Deborah Silver, 28.98%.
Republican Mike Crapo was re-elected as U.S. Senator with 357,752 votes, 60.65%, with Democrat David Roth receiving 169,693 votes, 28.77%.
Republican Russ Fulcher was re-elected as 1^st District U.S. Representative with 222,891 votes, 71.34%, to 82,260 for Democratic challenger Kaylee Peterson, 26.33%.
In the state-wide ballot issues SJR 102 was approved with 288,115 yes votes, 52.02%, and 265,699 no votes, 47.98%. This allows the legislature to vote themselves back into session where formerly only the Governor could call them back into session. An advisory vote was approved 454,424 to 114,690, 79.85% yes. This asked if the voters would want a $500 million surplus returned to taxpayers, cut ongoing income taxes, create a flat tax and add $410 million to school funding.
The District 7 Senate and State Representative and all the Idaho County positions up for election were won by Republicans who were unopposed.
Cindy Carlson received 15,685 votes and will be the new District 7 State Senator.
Mike Kingsley received 15,509 votes and will be the Position A State Representative. He was formerly a District 6 State Representative but his residence got moved into District 7 when the District lines were redrawn.
Charlie Shepherd was re-elected as the Position B State Representative with 15,499 votes.
In the Idaho County races Ted Lindsley received 6,490 votes and was re-elected as County Commissioner for the 2^nd District. Denis Duman received 6,345 votes and was re-elected as County Commissioner for the 3^rd District. Kathy Ackerman was re-elected as Court Clerk with 6,638 votes. Abbie Hudson was re-elected as County Treasurer with 6,602 votes. Kim Nuxoll was re-elected as County Assessor with 6,579 votes and Cody Funke was re-elected as County Coroner with 6,555 votes. All are Republicans.