Both Mitch Toryanski and Evan Frasure announced today that they’ll formally announce their candidacies for Idaho Secretary of State on Thursday, Toryanski at 11:45 a.m. in 2^nd floor rotunda of the state Capitol, and Frasure at 11:15 a.m. on the steps of the Bannock County Courthouse in Pocatello. Toryanski is a an attorney and former GOP state senator from Boise; Frasure is a former GOP state senator from Pocatello who also ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 2002. Frasure is listing endorsements from Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, several other GOP lawmakers, three Bannock County commissioners and the mayors of Pocatello and Chubbuck in his news release; Toryanski says Freda Cenarrusa, widow of the late longtime Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa, will be his honorary campaign chairman.

Secretary of State Ben Ysursa’s decision to retire rather than seek a fourth term in the post has kicked up interest in the race; former House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, announced his candidacy even before Ysursa bowed out. Chief deputy Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane launched his campaign last week; still considering the race are Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Rep. Holli High Woodings, D-Boise.