The 2022 general election season is officially open.
On Friday, Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane announced election officials sent out the first batch of 26,000 absentee ballots, which should arrive this week for Ada County voters who already requested an absentee ballot.
Election Day itself is just six weeks away, and in-person voting will be available in every country across the state on Nov. 8.
This year’s elections are especially important.
Nationally, it’s the midterms, and three of Idaho’s four seats in Congress are up for election, including both seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of the Gem State’s two seats in the U.S. Senate.
Statewide, the stakes are also high. Every statewide office — governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, controller, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction are up for election. On top of that, all 105 seats in the Idaho Legislature are up for election.
Partly because of the 2021 redistricting process and partly because of the May 17 primary election, where 19 Republican incumbents were defeated, there is expected to be unusually large turnover in the Idaho Legislature, with 40 or more of the 105 seats changing hands before the 2023 legislative session begins Jan. 9.
“One of the key issues here is thinking about the direction of policy in the state moving forward,” Boise State University associate professor of political science Jaclyn Kettler said. “With a lot of these statewide positions and what are likely to be significant changes in the Legislature, we could see the direction in policy areas change from what it has been.”
Kettler said she will pay close attention to a handful of statewide and Idaho Senate races as the Nov. 8 election gets closer. She said the winner of the attorney general’s race between Republican Raúl Labrador and Democrat Tom Arkoosh could usher in a significant change in leadership style and philosophy compared to outgoing Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, a longtime moderate Republican who wasn’t afraid to issue legal opinions questioning the constitutionality of legislation proposed by members of his own party.
Kettle also said even one or two close Idaho Senate races could have an effect on the policy direction of the Senate, which for years has represented a sort of check on the Idaho House by refusing to hear or killing some of the more controversial bills passed by the Idaho House.
“Given the likely turnover for the Senate compared to the norm, there are possibilities some of these races may affect the type of policies we see making it out of committee or making it out of the chamber,” Kettler said.
Kettler said she will track the District 6 Senate race between Sen. David Nelson, D-Moscow, former Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, and Constitution Party Candidate James Hartley. She’s also watching the District 15 Senate race in west Boise that features Rep. Codi Galloway, R-Boise, Democrat Rick Just and Constitution Party candidate Sarah A. Clendenon.
Here’s a look at contested Idaho races in the Nov. 8 general election
Federal races
U.S. Senate
- Republican Mike Crapo
- Democrat David Roth
- Independent Scott Oh Cleveland
- Constitution Party Ray J. Writz
- Libertarian Idaho Sierra Law, also known as Carta Reale Sierra
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
- Republican Russ Fulcher
- Democrat Kaylee Peterson
- Libertarian Darian Drake
U.S. House of Representatives, District 2
- Republican Mike Simpson
- Democrat Wendy Norman
Statewide races
Governor
- Independent Ammon Bundy
- Constitution Party Chantyrose Davison
- Democrat Stephen Heidt
- Republican Brad Little
- Libertarian Paul Sand
Lieutenant Governor
- Republican Scott Bedke
- Democrat Terri Pickens Manweiler
- Constitution Party Pro-Life, a person formerly known as Marvin Richardson
Secretary of State
- Democrat Shawn Keenan
- Republican Phil McGrane
Controller
- Democrat Dianna David
- Constitution Party Miste Gardner
- Republican Brandon D. Woolf
Treasurer
- Republican Julie Ellsworth
- Democrat Deborah Silver
Attorney General
- Democrat Tom Arkoosh
- Republican Raúl Labrador
Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Republican Debbie Critchfield
- Democrat Terry L. Gilbert
Contested legislative races
District 2
Idaho House of Representatives, District 2, Seat B
- Republican Dale Hawkins
- Libertarian Jennifer Ann Luoma
- Democrat Tom Stroschein
District 4
Idaho House of Representatives, District 4, Seat A
- Republican Joe Alfieri
- Democrat Megan Dardis-Kunz
Idaho House of Representatives, District 4, Seat B
- Democrat Larry Bieber
- Republican Elaine Price
District 5
Idaho House of Representatives, District 5, Seat A
- Democrat Kristy Reed Johnson
- Republican Ron Mendive
Idaho House of Representatives, District 5, Seat B
- Democrat Teresa Borrenpohl
- Republican Tony Wisniewski
District 6
Idaho Senate, District 6
- Republican Dan Foreman
- Constitution Party James Hartley
- Democrat David Nelson
Idaho House of Representatives, District 6, Seat A
- Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart
- Republican Lori McCann
Idaho House of Representatives, District 6, Seat B
- Democrat Tim Gresback
- Republican Brandon Mitchell
District 8
Idaho House of Representatives, District 8, Seat A
- Republican Matthew “Matt” Bundy
- Constitution Party Steven W. Feil
Idaho House of Representatives, District 8, Seat B
- Republican Megan C. Blanksma
- Constitution Party Tony Ullrich
District 10
Idaho Senate, District 10
- Republican Tammy Nichols
- Democrat Bob Solomon
District 11
Idaho Senate, District 11
- Democrat Toni Ferro
- Republican Chris Trakel
Idaho House of Representatives, District 11, Seat A
- Democrat Robert Scoville
- Republican Julie Yamamoto
Idaho House of Representatives, District 11, Seat B
- Republican Chris Allgood
- Democrat Marisela Pesina
District 13
Idaho House of Representatives, District 13, Seat A
- Republican Brent J. Crane
- Constitution Party Petre Danaila
District 14
Idaho Senate, District 14
- Republican C. Scott Grow
- Libertarian Robert Imhoff
- Constitution Party Kirsten Faith Richardson
Idaho House of Representatives, District 14, Seat A
- Republican Ted Hill
- Democrat Crystal Ivie
Idaho House of Representatives, District 14, Seat B
- Democrat Shelley Brock
- Republican Josh Tanner
Legislative District 15
Idaho Senate, District 15
- Constitution Party Sarah A. Clendenon
- Republican Codi Galloway
- Democrat Rick Just
Idaho House of Representatives, District 15, Seat A
- Democrat Steve Berch
- Republican Steve Keyser
Idaho House of Representatives, District 15, Seat B
- Republican Dori Healey
- Democrat Jeff Nafsinger
District 16
Idaho Senate, District 16
- Republican Dennis Mansfield
- Democrat Ali Rabe
Idaho House of Representatives, District 16, Seat A
- Democrat Soñia Galaviz
- Republican Mark A. Montoya
- Independent Wayne Richey
Idaho House of Representatives, District 16, Seat B
- Republican Jackie Davidson
- Democrat Colin Nash
District 17
Idaho Senate, District 17
- Republican Benjamin Donovan Chafetz
- Democrat Carrie Semmelroth
Idaho House of Representatives, District 17, Seat A
- Democrat John Gannon
- Republican April Larson
Idaho House of Representatives, District 17, Seat B
- Democrat Sue Chew
- Republican Mary Ellen Nourse
District 18
Idaho Senate, District 18
- Republican Dan Bridges
- Democrat Janie Ward-Engelking
Idaho House of Representatives, District 18, Seat A
- Republican MaryKate Johnson
- Democrat Ilana Rubel
Idaho House of Representatives, District 18, Seat B
- Democrat Brooke Green
- Republican Gregory T. Holtz
District 19
Idaho Senate, District 19
- Republican Blair Moss
- Democrat Melissa Wintrow
Idaho House of Representatives, District 19, Seat A
- Republican Melissa J. Christian
- Democrat Lauren Necochea
Idaho House of Representatives, District 19, Seat B
- Republican James Faasau
- Democrat Chris Mathias
District 21
Idaho Senate, District 21
- Republican Treg A. Bernt
- Constitution Party Monica McKinley
Idaho House of Representatives, District 21, Seat A
- Democrat Josi Christensen
- Libertarian Mike Long
- Republican James Petzke
- Constitution Party Daniel Weston
District 22
Idaho Senate, District 22
- Republican Lori Den Hartog
- Constitution Party Brendan J. Gomez
- Democrat Pat Soulliere
Idaho House of Representatives, District 22, Seat A
- Democrat Natalie R. MacLachlan
- Republican John Vander Woude
Idaho House of Representatives, District 22, Seat B
- Republican Jason A. Monks
- Democrat Dawn Pierce
District 23
Idaho Senate, District 23
- Libertarian Jon Basabe
- Republican Todd Lakey
- Democrat Mik Lose
District 25
Idaho Senate, District 25
- Constitution Party Paul Thompson
- Republican Linda Wright Hartgen
District 26
Idaho Senate, District 26
- Independent Donald Lappin
- Republican Laurie Lickley
- Democrat Ron C. Taylor
Idaho House of Representatives District 26, Seat A
- Democrat Ned Burns
- Republican Mike Pohanka
Idaho House of Representatives District 26, Seat B
- Democrat Karma Metzler Fitzgerald
- Republican Jack Nelson
District 27
Idaho Senate, District 27
- Republican Kelly Anthon
- Independent Bill Drury
District 28
Idaho Senate, District 28
- Republican Jim Guthrie
- Independent Mike Saville
District 29
Idaho Senate, District 29
- Democrat James Ruchti
- Republican David T. Worley
Idaho House of Representatives, District 29, Seat A
- Republican Dusty Whitney Manwaring
- Democrat Mary Shea
Idaho House of Representatives, District 29, Seat B
Democrat Nate Roberts
Republican Jake Stevens
District 30
Idaho Senate, District 30
- Democrat Dave Archuleta
- Republican Julie VanOrden
Idaho House of Representatives, District 30, Seat B
- Democrat Travis Oler
- Republican Julianne Young
District 31
Idaho House of Representatives, District 31, Seat A
- Democrat Connie Delaney
- Republican Jerald Raymond
Idaho House of Representatives, District 31, Seat B
- Republican Rod Furniss
- Democrat Wayne Talmadge
District 33
Idaho House of Representatives, District 33, Seat A
- Republican Barbara Ehardt
- Democrat Miranda Marquit
District 35
Idaho House of Representatives, District 35, Seat B
Independent Hyrum F. Johnson
Republican Josh Wheeler
