Record Amount Spent In ‘94 Election
Spurred by a governor’s race that was very close until Republican Phil Batt pulled away in the final days, statewide election campaigns in Idaho cost a record $5.05 million.
The secretary of state’s office has released its report on spending during the 1993-94 election cycle. It showed that statewide, legislative and political action groups and the Democratic and Republican parties spent about $10.6 million on the election.
Batt, who was locked in a tight battle with Democratic Attorney General Larry EchoHawk, spent $1.387 million on the race, about $52,000 more than his challenger. Although EchoHawk was leading most of the way, Batt rallied to win by 34,760 votes.
Three men who lost to Batt in the GOP primary, Boise businessmen Larry Eastland, Chuck Winder and Doug Dorn, between them spent $485,000.
Total spending in the governor’s race was $3.35 million.
The previous record for all statewide races combined was $2.56 million spent in 1986.
The secretary of state’s report showed that overall, Republican statewide candidates spent $2.37 million and Democrats about $50,000 less. Other candidates spent $161,896 and $160,704 was spent on the nonpartisan race for an Idaho Supreme Court position.
Although overall spending was nearly equal, the Republicans showed a big advantage in key areas that led to an overwhelming GOP landslide. State Controller J.D. Williams was the only Democrat to win statewide office and there are just 21 Democrats among the 105 members of the Idaho Legislature.
Republican legislative candidates spent $1.08 million to $643,000 for Democrat contenders.
The Idaho Republican Party also spent $906,687 on the race, compared with just $335,812 for the Democrats.
The GOP spent heavily on organizing, registration and get-out-the vote efforts which the Democrats couldn’t match.
Money didn’t always determine the winners.
Democrat John Peavey spent $283,487 running for lieutenant governor but lost to the GOP’s Butch Otter, who spent just $114,306. Two losers in the GOP primary, Dean Haagenson and Dean Sorensen, spent just under $98,000 each.
Challenger Edith Stanger spent $32,219 but lost to GOP Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa, who spent just $10,388.