State Senator
Election Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Souza (R) | 13,233 | 62.94% |
| Kristi Milan (D) | 7,793 | 37.06% |
* 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
Since first-term state Sen. Mary Souza won her Senate seat two years ago, she said, “I have been working on many things and am learning a lot about the Legislature and its inner workings, and I’m anxious and excited to continue that to benefit the people of Coeur d’Alene.”
Her Democratic challenger, retired teacher Kristi Milan, has a different view: “She seems to be focused on groups that are anti-tax, anti-growth, groups like ALEC that are writing legislation that do not represent the needs of the people of Idaho,” Milan said.
Souza said she knows little about her opponent’s background, beyond her teaching career and service as president of the local teachers union. “I have a more varied background,” she said, noting her career in business and nursing and other work in the community. Milan names education as her top issue; Souza says her top issues “are always transparency, education, and accountability for government.”
The Candidates
Mary Souza
- Party:
- Republican
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Education: Graduated from Holy Names Academy in Spokane, 1971. Holds bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, 1976; and master’s degree in health education from Whitworth Univesity in Spokane, 1989.
Political background: Incumbent state senator, elected in 2014; seeking re-election for a second two-year term. Ran unsuccessfully for the Coeur d’Alene City Council and for mayor of Coeur d’Alene. Appointed to the city Planning and Zoning Commission for six years.
Work experience: Worked as a critical care nurse for 10 years, and also taught nursing at Spokane Community College. Worked as general manager of family business, Design Events in Coeur d’Alene, for 15 years, and continues to work there.
Family: Married. Has four for 38 years, four grown children, one grandchild
Kristi Milan
- Party:
- Democratic
- Age:
- 71
- City:
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Education: Graduated from Burbank High School, Burbank, Calif., in 1971. Earned bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and teaching credential from California State University-Dominguez Hills.
Political background: First run for office.
Work experience: Taught in the Coeur d’Alene School District for 17 years, starting out as a fourth grade teacher at Ramsey Elementary School; then teaching sixth grade at Canfield Middle School; and then physical education and history at Woodland Middle School. Also worked second jobs including selling appliances at Sears. Prior to teaching, helped operate a family aluminum fabrication business, Nivette Welding, for five years. Worked as a commercial insurance rater and in customer service for insurance companies. Also served as president of the Coeur d’Alene Education Association for eight years.
Family: Widowed. Has three children.
Complete Coverage
Poll: Hucks Nation backs Malek
In Thursday’s poll, a supermajority of Hucks Nation backs incumbent Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, over Democrat Patrick Mitchell in the race for the House District 4A (Coeur d’Alene) seat. Today’s Poll: Who will get your vote in the race for the Senate District 4 (Coeur d’Alene) seat — Republican Mary Souza or Democrat Kristi Milan?
Senate panel rejects Souza’s bid to change Idaho school board elections
Coeur d’Alene Sen. Mary Souza’s bid to change school board elections in Idaho failed Monday in the Senate Education Committee, which roundly rejected the idea.
New bill would extend Sunshine Law requirements to recalls, local elections
All state and local elections in Idaho would be subject to the state Sunshine Law’s requirements for public disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures, under legislation introduced this morning in the Senate State Affairs Committee. The bill, proposed by Sens. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, and…