Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, to the Idaho Senate, to replace former Sen. Branden Durst, D-Boise, who resigned to move to the Seattle area; Ward-Engelking was the top choice of the Democratic Party committee for the legislative district. “Rep. Ward-Engelking was part of an exemplary freshman class in the Idaho House," Otter said, "Now she has the opportunity to continue her work in the Idaho Senate, where I’m confident she will continue to serve the people of District 18 well.

The district committee now must submit three nominees to Otter to fill Ward-Engelking's House seat.