Ben Fulcher, state chair of the Idaho College Republicans and a senior at Boise State University, welcomed the crowd to the GOP election-night watch party tonight at the Riverside Hotel in Boise. Fulcher acknowledged right off that he resembles his dad, Russ Fulcher, a former state senator who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Butch Otter in the GOP primary in 2014 – and who’s also here tonight, doing a live broadcast about election results with 670 KBOI Radio.

“There’s a lot of young people that are really hungry for change and for something new,” the younger Fulcher told the crowd of more than 100 that’s gathered in the ballroom, already filling most of the seats at round, white-cloth-covered tables. He introduced Idaho GOP Chairman Steve Yates, who said, “Let’s hear it for our College Republicans. … We have good leaders among our youth in the Republican Party.”

Yates said, “We’ve got a historic night. … Idaho gets to have its voice tonight. I’m thrilled that the party was supportive of moving in the direction of having an early primary.” As Yates spoke, one woman in the audience held up a “Trump” campaign sign.