Two years after the Idaho Republican Party’s state convention degenerated into chaos, the party wrapped up a surprisingly smooth confab in Nampa on Saturday with much talk of party unity, though little enthusiasm for presidential nominee Donald Trump...
The votes have been tallied for the final race at this year's GOP state convention, for an open second-vice chairman position; Tyler Hurst won, defeating Jennifer Locke of Coeur d'Alene. With that, Chairman Steve Yates declared the convention adjourned.
Idaho Republican Party Secretary Marla Lawson has won another term, turning back a challenge from outgoing state Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton. North Idaho state Reps. Don Cheatham, R-Post Falls, and Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, spoke out for McMillan. “Shannon is faithful to our party’s platform...
Ruthie Johnson, longtime GOP activist from Kootenai County, earned a rare late-afternoon laugh from the crowd at the state GOP convention today as she spoke to second the nomination of Jennifer Locke for second vice-chair of the Idaho GOP. “When I started working in politics,…
Chris Harriman has won another term as treasurer for the Idaho Republican Party, turning back a challenge from Maria Nate; Nate then asked that the vote be recorded as unanimous, drawing applause. So far, incumbents have run every party officer race. The only ones left…
Cindy Siddoway has turned back a challenge from Janice McGeachin for another term as Idaho GOP national committeewoman; McGeachin then asked that the vote be recorded as unanimous, drawing applause. National Committeeman Damond Watkins was re-elected without opposition.
Mike Duff says he’s “disappointed” that he didn’t win his race for Idaho GOP chairman, but said, “We knew going in it was going to be tough, because there has been some progress … in recovering from the debacle that was Moscow. Realize we only…
Mike Mathews has won another term as Idaho GOP first vice chairman, turning back a challenge from Bryan Smith. Meanwhile, national committeewoman Cindy Siddoway is facing a challenge from former state Rep. Janice McGeachin; the ballots are being turned in now in that race.
Steve Yates has won a second term as chairman of the Idaho Republican Party, defeating challenges from Kathy Sims and Mike Duff. The vote was reportedly lopsidedly in favor of Yates; just after his victory was announced, Sims took the microphone and said, “I would...
The ballots have been collected, but not yet counted, for state GOP party chairman. In the meantime, nominations are proceeding for other positions. After numerous speakers backed party First Vice Chairman Mike Mathews, Bryan Zollinger nominated Idaho Falls attorney and former unsuccessful congressional candidate Bryan…
Each candidate for state party chair was given 3 minutes to speak. First up was Mike Duff, who said in the course of running for the position, “I’ve learned I was a lowlife. … It’s a wonder my own dog doesn’t bite me just out...
Two more candidates have been nominated for state GOP party chairman: Kathy Sims and Mike Duff. Rep. Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, nominated Sims. “She truly lives the platform every single day,” Boyle told the Republican delegates. “For decades Kathy has been a grassroots volunteer, a tireless...
As leadership elections begin at this afternoon’s session of the Idaho GOP state convention, Doug Pickett, Cassia County GOP chairman, has nominated Steve Yates to continue as state party chairman. “Steve Yates has proven by his own actions, voluntarily and involuntarily, that he is not…
After several failed motions on procedural questions, the Idaho GOP convention has voted unanimously to adopt all the resolutions proposed by its resolutions committee, including opposition to the Obama Administration’s guidance on school bathroom use by transgender students; calling for amending the Idaho Constitution to…
Now it’s on to the resolutions committee report, at today’s final day of the Idaho Republican Party state convention. You can see a summary of the resolutions here.
Now there’s been a new motion to suspend the rules and take up the platform committee’s proposals, but only after new copies are printed of the updated proposals. “If you say yes, then you would like us to print several hundred copies,” state GOP Chairman…
After much delay and a roll call, the Idaho Republican Party has voted against suspending its rules to allow the platform committee report to be considered. The roll call showed 272 in favor of suspending the rules, and 214 against. “The vote of the body...
For fairly obscure reasons, related in part to the national GOP convention having been moved up to July, the Idaho Republican Party’s state convention has to vote first by a two-thirds margin to suspend its rules, before it can hear any of its committee reports,...
The state GOP convention is back in session this morning, with its rules committee report up first. There’s been debate so far over a rules change regarding when rules of the convention can be changed, complete with divided votes and applause. After several divided votes…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
