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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

State Representative, Seat B

Election Results

Candidate Votes Pct
Kathleen Sims (R) 6,322 55.32%
Anne Nesse (D) 5,106 44.68%

* Race percentages are calculated with data from the Secretary of State's Office, which omits write-in votes from its calculations when there are too few to affect the outcome. The Spokane County Auditor's Office may have slightly different percentages than are reflected here because its figures include any write-in votes.

About the Race

Third-term Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, faces a challenge from Democrat Anne Nesse, whom she defeated in 2012, 57 percent to 43 percent.

The Candidates

Kathleen Sims

Party:
Republican
City:
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Occupation:
Owns car dealership

Owner of the Coeur d’Alene Honda dealership and a former county Republican Party chair, Sims is seeking a fourth term in the House. She earlier served a term in the Senate after being appointed, but lost to then-Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, when redistricting pushed the two Republicans into the same district as she sought re-election. A critic of urban renewal laws and of the local redevelopment agency, she is vice chair of the House Local Government Committee. Sims also serves on the Judiciary and State Affairs committees. She is a Rotarian and a board member of the Idaho Auto Dealers. A Spokane native, Sims graduated from North Idaho Junior College in accounting. She served on the Idaho Human Rights Commission; and has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Anne Nesse

Party:
Democratic
City:
Coeur d’Alene
Occupation:
Former teacher

Former teacher and nurse and small-business operator, ran unsuccessfully against Sims two years ago, and since then has become an advocate for raising Idaho’s minimum wage, pushing for a voter initiative and forming the group RaiseIdaho.org. She’s continuing that push, looking at possible city initiatives. Though the measure didn’t receive enough signatures to make this year’s ballot, Nesse said her group learned that there’s widespread support in Idaho for the idea.

Complete Coverage

Nesse runs for District 4 seat

None

In latest example of GOP split, Idaho governor backs challengers to five incumbents

BOISE – Republican legislators rejecting their party’s incumbent governor for Tuesday’s primary election now face a powerful obstacle in their re-election bids. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has endorsed candidates in 22 legislative primary races – including five challengers to current GOP incumbents, four of them from North Idaho.