JUNE REPORT
The 2024 Idaho Primary Election consumed the month of May. With all 105 legislators up for election, as they are every two years, major political battles formed during the Primary Election season. Many incumbents chose to run again for the 2025-2026 Idaho Legislature once again, with only a couple of legislators willingly retiring. This presents a statewide battle for the power of policymaking in Idaho for the next two years, and the stakes are always high.
The election, held on May 21, 2024, led to surprising results around Idaho. 15 Republican incumbents were not re- elected this cycle, including all three District 8 legislators, many Twin Falls and Canyon County legislators, and long serving Senate Pro Tempore Senator Chuck Winder. A majority of these incumbents would categorize themselves as “Main Street Republicans” with traditional Idaho values; however, there are a few that were unelected who would lean into the far right and categorize themselves as the “Freedom Caucus”.
We saw many Main Street Republicans challenged this cycle by Freedom Caucus candidates and outside PACs throughout the state. Campaign ads flooded voters on radio, television, mail, text messages, digital ads, door knockers, and more. Political attacks flooded the state from both sides of the Republican party. With each election cycle, Idaho has seen more and more outside influence from national organizations and Super PAC funding flowing into our state. Legislative races are becoming increasingly competitive and expensive, some are now crossing the $100,000 threshold. The top Super PACs spent millions on events, ads, and more this cycle.
Although results will not be finalized until June 5, 2024, HERE are the 2024 Primary Election Results. There were many races that were very close, one race was ten (10) votes apart has now been updated to two (2) votes apart; thus, triggering a recount to determine the winning candidate of District 30-B. With only a few swing districts in the state and a super majority of Republicans in Idaho, the Primary Election determined most of the races in the state. Although we have a close idea of what the makeup of the new Legislature will look like, we will be monitoring all races closely as we head into the November General Election on November 5, 2024.
With the changes in both the House and Senate, comes opportunity for legislators pining to move up or into a leadership position. Senator Grow, current JFAC Co-Chair, has already announced he will be running for Senate Pro Tem. We believe similar announcements from other returning legislators will follow in the coming weeks and months as many of them weigh their odds. As always, we will be keeping a close eye on leadership races to understand the outcomes, but we will not meddle or whip votes for leadership positions. This is a longstanding tradition for us, of watching closely but not picking favorites among leadership candidates. This also ensures we can work with leadership going forward.
In meantime, early this month Governor Little announced a few staffing changes. Governor Brad Little appointed Alex Adams, current Division of Financial Management (DFM) Budget Chief and Administrator, as the new Director of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW). Lori Wolff, current Director of Operations in the Office of the Governor, will be transitioning to DFM to serve as the new Administrator. Sara Stover, current Director of Cabinet Affairs, will be promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff in Governor Little’s Office. All three individuals will begin their new positions June 5, 2024. The BB&A team is excited to continue to work with all three staff members as they transition into their new role.
June brings an opportunity for the BB&A team to begin to meet with both returning and newly elected officials as new legislative ideas are beginning to form. As many agency staff and other key decision-makers take much-needed time off, we continue our work year-round and strive to find opportunities for you moving into the next fiscal year. Over the summer, we will be reaching out to plan strategically and continue exceeding expectations on your goals moving forward. On Friday, May 10, 2024, the Idaho Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council met. Director of Parks and Recreation, Susan Buxton, addressed the item of business is for the 2024 funding and the ARPA funds criteria discussion. Director Buxton spoke about the funds as they are different from the 2023 funds. The 2024 funding is the ARPA funding, which requires the receivers of the funds to be funded and set by the end of December 2024, and the funds have to be used and paid out by December 2025. She did not want Parks and Recreation to be blamed for not spending the money.
The goal for the meeting today was to create an outline and brainstorm what the expenditures would go towards. Dustin Miller, Idaho Department of Lands, asked for the amount, and Buxton said it was $5 million. They had a long discussion of opportunities of where to distribute the $5 million and the different possibilities. There was discussion of the opportunity of replacing the appropriated funds for the funds from 2023 with ARPA funds as they have a deadline on when they need to be spent, so then they can have more bandwidth for the $5 million dollars.
