Idaho Republican Party Chairman Steve Yates is striking an optimistic tone as he announces the state party convention, which is set for June 2-4 at the Idaho Center in Nampa. "This convention will serve to unite and launch the party into the 2016 general election from a position of strength," Yates said, "and I am looking forward to a successful weekend in June. A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring that this convention runs smoothly, and I'm excited to be working with Republicans from across the state as we unite our party."

That would be a big change from the state party’s last convention in 2014 in Moscow, which was an unmitigated disaster – it ended in disarray without electing a chairman, setting a platform or doing any of its scheduled business, amid intra-party squabbles. That year’s convention chairman, 1^st District GOP Rep. Raul Labrador, closed the tumultuous gathering facing jeers and walkouts from his own party members.

Yates said at this year’s convention, “delegates from across the state will work together to ratify the party platform, elect party officials, and select delegates to the Republican National Convention,” and the weekend will also include policy workshops, luncheons and receptions with local, state and national Republican leaders, and a “campaign school” to help prepare Republican candidates for the November election. There’s more info here.