Election Special: Great night for conservatives

From the top of the ballot to the bottom, there were 30 contested races in yesterday’s GOP primary. In fantastic news for the pro-family movement in Idaho, solid social conservatives won 23 of them.

In a huge win, strict constructionist Joel Horton (right) appears to have turned back a challenge from activist candidate John Bradbury for a seat on the Idaho Supreme Court, although Horton’s victory was by the narrowest of margins, 194 votes out of 149,000 votes cast.

Bradbury ran a well-funded and effective campaign, but Horton’s win indicates that Idahoans still want jurists who show judicial restraint. When we look at what California’s Supreme Court did two weeks ago to the institution of marriage, it would be hard to overestimate the importance of this win for the rule of law.

Bill Sali thumped challenger Matt Salisbury 60%-40%, despite a huge influx of crossover Democrats. A sign of just how many Dems jumped ship to make mischief in the Republican primary: Salisbury actually got more votes than Sali’s November opponent, Walt Minnick, the Democrat running unopposed in his primary.

Jim Risch, as expected, won the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate handily over a largely undistinguished field, and Mike Simpson trounced token opposition for the House seat from the 2^nd CD.

Idaho’s presidential primary exposed more of the weakness of John McCain’s candidacy, as he barely polled 70% in the Gem State despite being the party’s presumptive nominee. Ron Paul grabbed 24% of the Idaho primary vote, which to my knowledge is his highest vote percentage in any primary this year.

The effort of Ron Paul backers to win committee precinct positions to become delegates to the state convention next month showed mixed results. Their ability to impact convention dynamics remains unknown at this point.

Despite several significant disappointments, the news from races for seats in the Idaho statehouse is very good.

In unfortunate news, incumbent Curtis Bowers lost to establishment Republican Pat Takasugi in a District 10 House race despite running an energetic and effective campaign. Bowers would have become an increasingly effective pro-family lawmaker had he been returned to office, and we can hope this is not his last foray into electoral politics.

Crossover voting may have had some impact on this race, as Bowers was told

to his face by a number of Democrats that they intended to vote against him in the primary.

Clayton Cramer, inspired by incumbent Sen. Tim Corder’s sponsorship of what would have been a disastrous sexual orientation and gender identity bill, could not pull off an upset in District 22. And freshmen pro-family legislator John Vander Woude lost to a challenger for his House seat in District 21.

But on the whole the results were extremely encouraging for social conservatives. Sen. Russ Fulcher fought off a well-funded assault and emerged with a 52%-48% victory for his District 21 seat, in a classic come-from-behind win. When I went to bed at 3 a.m. last night, Fulcher was trailing, but by this morning when the final vote tally was in, he was a winner.

Cliff Bayer fought off a vigorous challenge for his House seat, also in District 21. Fulcher and Bayer have been steady, effective, and well-liked advocates for the family and for life, and were largely responsible for shepherding the increase in the grocery tax credit through the legislature this year, which, when fully implemented, will represent the largest tax reduction in Idaho history.

Steve Thayn, unfairly hammered by the old media for his work on last year’s Family Task Force, fought off two challengers to win the GOP nomination for a House seat in District 11. Thayn is slowly changing the way legislators think about public policy issues, turning their attention to the impact of legislation on the family and turning their attention from intervention to prevention. Thayn consistently but patiently challenges the assumption often made at the statehouse that every social problem requires a government program.

Sen. Shirley McKague, a staunch conservative representing District 20, fought off a challenge from moderate and current Representative Mark Snodgrass. McKague is a conservative by deep conviction and principle, and has an unblemished voting record on social issues. This result not only preserves a

solid conservative presence in the November race, but removes a moderate voice, especially on issues of education reform, from the legislature.

Christ Troupis, aided by boots-on-the-ground help from volunteers from the Keep the Commandments Coalition, grateful for his help in their battle to preserve a Ten Commandments monument in Julia Davis Park, squeaked by well-funded challenger Dennis Warren. His margin, with 100% of the precincts reporting, is just 21 votes out of over 2,300 cast.

Chuck Winder, who received the endorsement of Idaho Chooses Life in his race, won over incumbent Stan Bastian and challenger Saundra McDavid to win the GOP nomination for Senate in District 14.

These primary victories, by Fulcher, McKague, Troupis and Winder, hold out promise that the Idaho Senate may become more friendly to the interests of the family and a conservative social agenda in general. Over the last several years, any number of good pro-family bills have been stalled in the Senate after sailing through the House.

Other victories of special note: Tom Loertscher, a reliable pro-life and pro-family voice in the House, fought off three challengers to win the GOP nomination for his seat in District 31. Conservative challenger Judy Boyle unseated moderate incumbent Diana Thomas in a House race in District 9, and Rep. Mike Moyle easily fended off a last-minute challenge from Nancy Merrill in District 14.

Other social conservatives who won contested primaries last night, with the district they represent in parentheses: Eric Anderson (1), Mike Jorgenson (3), Phil Hart (3), Carlos Bilbao (11), Bob Schaefer (12), Steve Kren (13), Elizabeth Hodge (16), Julie Ellsworth (18), Joe Palmer (20), Bart Davis (33), and Lenore Hardy Barrett (35).

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