Idaho Democrats Pick up six legislative seats, unofficial results show

As a blue wave swept congressional midterm races across the country on Tuesday, Democrats in Idaho flipped six seats in the state Legislature, lifting their caucus from 15 members to 21 in the 105-member body, according to unofficial results released by the Secretary of State’s Office, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.

The gains came in the state’s few genuinely competitive districts — west Boise, the Magic Valley, and Pocatello — and they mark the clearest sign yet that Idaho’s deep-red electorate can still produce pockets of Democratic momentum when national headwinds align. Yet the shift changes little about who actually governs: Republicans retain supermajority control of both chambers, all seven statewide constitutional offices, and the state’s four congressional seats. Results remain unofficial and preliminary until the Idaho State Board of Canvassers certifies them on Nov. 24.

West Boise Delivers a Clean Sweep for Democrats

Legislative District 15 produced the night’s most decisive Democratic night, with the party picking up two House seats and adding a Senate seat. Democratic challenger Jae Etchart defeated incumbent Rep. Dori Healey, 53.3% to 46.7% — about 11,000 votes to nearly 9,700 — with all 20 precincts reporting. In the district’s Senate race, former Boise School District Trustee Nancy Gregory beat Republican Desi Burbank for the seat vacated by Republican Sen. Codi Galloway, who did not seek reelection, leading roughly 54.5% to 45.5%. The district’s lone incumbent Democrat, Rep. Steve Berch, cruised to reelection over Steve Keyser with nearly 58.3% of the vote.

Idaho Democrats Pick up six legislative seats, unofficial results show — Photo: yelmonline.com

Magic Valley and Pocatello Add Four More Seats

In central Idaho’s Legislative District 26, Democrats won two House races described as progressive pickups. Anita Janis unseated incumbent Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome, 51% to 43.9%, with independent Bella Schiffler taking 5.1%. Kevin Marsh won the vacant House Seat B previously held by retiring Rep. Jack Nelsen, beating Lyle Johnstone nearly 59% to 41%. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Ron Taylor held his seat against Republican Bryan Hyde and independent Shaila Tate, 56.5% to 38.6% and 4.9%. Farther east in Bannock County’s District 29, Mary Shea defeated incumbent Rep. Dustin Manwaring, 56.4% to 43.6%, and former Democratic Rep. Nate Roberts returned to the Legislature by beating Jennifer Miles, 55.8% to 44.2%.

Even in North Idaho, where Democrats hoped to unseat a Republican, incumbent Sen. Dan Foreman survived a tight challenge from Robin Weldy in District 6, 52.7% to 47.3%.

Republican Supermajorities Remain Intact

For all the Democratic gains, the arithmetic of power in Boise barely moved. Republicans still command supermajorities in both the House and Senate, meaning they can pass legislation, override gubernatorial vetoes, and advance constitutional amendments without a single Democratic vote. The party also kept every statewide office and every congressional seat. Earlier Wednesday, before final tallies, Yelm Online’s report of the same unofficial returns projected a more modest four-seat pickup for Democrats, underscoring how the count shifted as more precincts reported.

The Legislature was already headed for significant turnover regardless of Tuesday’s outcome: a primary earlier this year ousted nine Republican incumbents, leaving 15 legislative races with no incumbent running. Some familiar names returned anyway, including former Republican Sen. Scott Herndon, who won back his District 1 seat with 57.27% of the vote, and Roberts, the Democrat reclaiming his Pocatello seat. Thirteen incumbents, largely Republicans, ran unopposed.

What the six new seats do give Democrats is a larger voice in a chamber where every vote can matter at the margins — and a foothold in the state’s fastest-growing suburban districts, where the margins were tight enough that a handful of precincts decided control of the House. Whether that foothold grows or shrinks will depend on whether Tuesday’s results reflect a durable realignment in west Boise and the Magic Valley or simply a single national wave passing through a state that, for now, remains firmly red.