Rep. Russ Mathews, R-Idaho Falls, plans to challenge 2nd District Congressman Mike Simpson in the GOP primary. The three-term state lawmaker announced his candidacy on an Idaho Falls talk radio program yesterday, the Idaho Falls Post-Register reported today. Reporter Nick Draper reported that Simpson has never received less than 62 percent of the vote in a general election since he won the congressional seat in 1998, and in the 2008 GOP primary, he took 85 percent of the vote against two challengers. Mathews is a business consultant and three-term state lawmaker. Also in the GOP primary race is retired Iona businessman Chick Heileson, Draper reports.

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