7 new Idaho House districts pit incumbents

Seven of the 35 new legislative districts approved unanimously by Idaho’s bipartisan citizen redistricting commission today include more than two current House incumbents but have just two seats. That means if they want to remain in office, some of those incumbents will need to battle each other in the primary or general elections. That’s what makes redistricting such a politically thorny subject. The biggest House contest would come in District 8, which includes five current incumbents, including current House Speaker Lawerence Denney. Also in the new District 8: Reps. Carlos Bilbao, Judy Boyle, Ken Roberts, who is the assistant majority leader, and Steven Thayn.