Idaho U.S. Senate race

Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate, after making history six years ago by running unopposed for his second term, drawing only a write-in challenger. This time, Crapo faces two longshot challengers, Democrat P. Tom Sullivan, of Tetonia, a first-time candidate, and Constitution Party candidate Randy Lynn Bergquist, of Fruitland.

Crapo, a former three-term congressman and former president pro-tem of the state Senate, is Idaho’s senior senator. Despite facing underfunded and lesser-known challengers, he had amassed $3 million in his campaign war chest by June.

U.S. senators serve six-year terms; their salary is $174,000 a year, plus health care benefits.

• Mike Crapo , 59

Incumbent Republican

Bio: Two terms in U.S. Senate, three in U.S. House; eight years in Idaho Senate; Harvard-educated lawyer; Bachelor of arts, Brigham Young University; Idaho Falls resident. Married, five children and two grandchildren.

Campaign promises: “I promise to work hard for Idahoans, fight to protect our Constitution, eliminate the national debt and our culture of deficit spending, reduce federal regulations that choke our economy, cut the size, expense and control of the federal government, and always to listen to Idahoans to find common sense solutions to our problems.”

Notable: In his Owyhee Initiative, Crapo helped bring together ranchers, conservationists and more in a collaborative wilderness proposal that was signed into law. He’s also a prostate cancer survivor who’s crusaded for early detection.

• P. Tom Sullivan , 42

Democrat

Bio: Owns credit card processing business in eastern Idaho; partner in a weekly newspaper; first run for office; former owner of Tubbs Cafe in Coeur d’Alene; high school equivalency degree. Married, two children.

Campaign promises: “I will work to see ‘Made in America’ again; I will support small business, fair taxes and responsible spending to avoid ever repeating the enormous deficit racked up between 2000 and 2008 and I’ll vote in the interests of the people of Idaho, not for Wall Street interests; I will work to bring new technology, jobs, training and education to make Idaho a green energy leader in 21st century.”

Notable: Sullivan, who has both federal and state tax debt after a bank failure left his business struggling with the credit crunch, has been critical of Crapo’s record on financial issues, accusing him of promoting corporate interests over small businesses.