Sali-Minnick contest breaks spending record

BOISE – Congressman-elect Walt Minnick and ousted U.S. Rep. Bill Sali agree on at least one thing: Campaign spending proved a decisive factor in the Democrat’s Nov. 4 upset over the incumbent Republican.

Minnick spent $2.5 million in his campaign to grab the 1st Congressional District and become the first Democrat from Idaho to win a congressional seat since 1992. Sali spent less than half that amount – $1.2 million – to try to keep his seat, according to campaign finance reports filed last week.

The contest was the most expensive U.S. House race in Idaho history, breaking a record set two years earlier when Sali defeated Democrat Larry Grant in a $1.8 million battle.

“You have to spend more money than an incumbent to beat him, everything else being equal,” Minnick said. “Whether I had to spend that much or not – well, I guess I did. I didn’t win by much.”

Minnick beat Sali by 4,211 votes, winning 51 percent of the vote.

Both campaigns finished in debt.