Governor
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Otter (R) | 235,293 | 53.53% |
| A.J. Balukoff (D) | 169,491 | 38.56% |
| John T. Bujak (L) | 17,878 | 4.07% |
| Jill Humble (I) | 8,791 | 2% |
| Steve Pankey (C) | 5,216 | 1.19% |
| Pro-Life (formerly known as Marvin Richardson) (I) | 2,866 | 0.65% |
* 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
Two-term GOP Gov. Butch Otter is seeking a third consecutive term, which only one Idaho governor has ever won (Robert Smylie in 1962; Cecil Andrus served four terms, but they weren’t consecutive). Otter faces a challenge from Democrat A.J. Balukoff, who is hitting hard on Otter’s record on school funding, the economy and more. Also, Libertarian candidate John Bujak is challenging Otter from the right, contending the longtime libertarian Idaho politician has become too liberal. Four-year term. Position pays $119,000 a year.
Featured Candidates
Butch Otter
- Party:
- Republican
- City:
- Star, Idaho
- Occupation:
- Idaho governor
Incumbent governor, multimillionaire rancher, retired from J.R. Simplot Corp. Otter was first elected to the Idaho Legislature in 1972. He served 14 years as the state’s lieutenant governor, and three terms in Congress before being elected governor in 2006. He won his second term in 2010 with 59 percent of the vote. A rodeo enthusiast, Otter this year was named to the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame.
A.J. Balukoff
- Party:
- Democratic
- City:
- Boise, Idaho
- Occupation:
- Business owner
Businessman, retired CPA, and longtime chairman of the Boise School Board. Former owner of a large CPA firm and a chain of athletic clubs, Balukoff is part of the ownership groups of Boise’s Grove Hotel, the Idaho Steelheads hockey team, Century Link Arena, downtown office buildings and more. He was first elected to the Boise School Board in 1997; it oversees one of the highest performing school districts in the state. Active in civic and charitable efforts, Balukoff is the former bishop of his LDS church ward.
Complete Coverage
Gov. Otter undergoes full hip replacement
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was supposed to have a surgical procedure called hip resurfacing today, but his office reports that his surgeon determined that a total hip replacement was necessary instead, to repair deterioration discovered in the governor’s left hip. The hip replacement surgery was…
Eye on Boise: Otter names Field to head correction board
Gov. Butch Otter has named Debbie Field, former chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, former state drug czar and former chairman of Otter’s re-election campaign, as the new chair of the state Board of Correction. That’s the board that oversees Idaho’s prison system; former chair Robin Sandy retired from the post a week ago. “Debbie has had a distinguished career as a first-rate lawmaker and member of my Cabinet. I am pleased she is joining the board and I have no doubt she will make a meaningful contribution in her new role,” Otter said.
Idaho challenge still pending
BOISE – As the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up the 6th Circuit same-sex marriage case, opening the door to possible settlement of the issue for all 50 states, Idaho’s case still is waiting in line. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden are appealing Idaho’s gay marriage case to the U.S. Supreme Court, but they just filed their petitions two weeks ago. That means the Idaho case isn’t yet up for consideration by the high court.
While Idaho’s case waits in line, U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up 6th Circuit gay marriage case
The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to take up the same-sex marriage issue in a series of cases from the 6th Circuit, opening the door to possible settlement of the issue for all 50 states. You can read the high court’s order here. Idaho Gov….
U.S. Supreme Court will decide gay marriage issue
Setting the stage for a potentially historic ruling, the Supreme Court announced Friday it will decide whether same-sex couples have a right to marry everywhere in America under the Constitution.
Otter apologizes to Batt and Andrus, says he meant to inform them; defends his nuke stance
Gov. Butch Otter told reporters today that he meant for former Govs. Phil Batt and Cecil Andrus to be informed before he sent a letter to the Department of Energy regarding nuclear waste on Jan. 9. “If we didn’t reach out to them and let…
Former Govs. Batt, Andrus take sharp issue with Otter, Wasden over nuke waste
Two former Idaho governors – Republican Phil Batt and Democrat Cecil Andrus – called a press conference today to object sitting Gov. Butch Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s agreement to accept more nuclear waste at the Idaho National Laboratory, saying it violates Batt’s 1995…
Constitutional Defense Council special meeting set for Thursday morning
Idaho’s Constitutional Defense Council will hold a special meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Borah Post Office building’s 2nd floor courtroom, to consider paying $400,000-plus in court-ordered attorney fees and costs in the gay marriage case…
Otter urges school funding hike, tax cuts in State of State message
BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter called for boosts to school funding and tax cuts for businesses and top earners in his State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature on Monday, drawing enthusiastic applause from lawmakers. But the chairman of the Senate tax committee, Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, wasn’t convinced. “Quite frankly, we saw those same proposals last year as far as tax cuts,” Siddoway said after Otter’s talk. “But I’m dead serious about fixing education. … Then we’ll be able to see if there’s going to be enough revenue left over to do any tax reductions. I’m pretty skeptical.”
Otter’s agenda for Idaho: School funding boosts, tax cuts
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter called for boosts to school funding and tax cuts for businesses and top earners in his State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature on Monday. But the chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, Jeff Siddoway, said school funding must come before tax cuts, and schools in his areas are hurting…
Otter calls on lawmakers to back streamlined sales tax legislation
Speaking with reporters at a news conference after his State of the State address today, Gov. Butch Otter said he wants Idaho lawmakers to agree to join the streamlined sales tax project – something lawmakers have been debating but have resisted in recent years –…
Huckleberries: Committed committees are an asset to the city
Coeur d’Alene Councilman Dan Gookin shot from the hip last week – and hit his foot. After opposing the reappointment of competent Denny Davis to the Lake City Development Corporation, The Gookinator told the Coeur d’Alene Press: “We’ve got some people who serve on five or six committees. Our committees are weak because they don’t have a good cross-representation of the city.” Gookin would have a good point, if his info was correct. A look behind the numbers shows that 130 resident volunteers serve on Coeur d’Alene committees and commissions. No volunteer serves on five or six committees. In fact, only three serve on as many as three committees. Six others serve on two committees. Gookin might have found that out before he popped off by doing what Huckleberries Online did – contacting City Hall. Meanwhile, Gookin should consider the city lucky to have volunteers for committees that deal with such things as signs, urban forestry and dogs. In divided Coeur d’Alene, no good deed goes unpunished. PlayStation 3 flap