Former state Sen. Bert Marley of McCammon has been elected the new chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party. Marley defeated current IDP Communications Director Dean Ferguson; two other candidates had initially entered the race as well, but dropped out when Marley announced. “I am honored to represent the Idaho Democratic Party,” Marley said in a statement. “We have a lot of opportunities ahead for Idaho Democrats because the people of Idaho are ready to put balance and responsibility back into Idaho’s elected offices.”

Currently, Republicans hold all statewide offices, all four seats in the state’s congressional delegation, and 80 percent of the seats in the Legislature.

Marley, 67, replaces Larry Kenck, who stepped down for health reasons.

Marley served in the Idaho House from 1998 to 2001, and in the Senate from 2001 to 2006. He ran for state superintendent of schools in 2006, losing to Jana Jones in the primary, and was the Democratic Party’s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014.