A rush of legislative challengers…
More than two dozen last-minute candidates filed for the state Legislature today, just at the end of the filing period. The rush delayed the final posting of the full list of candidates; you can now see the full list here at the Idaho Secretary of State's Web site. Among lawmakers picking up last-minute challengers: Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d'Alene, who will face Democrat Mike Bullard of Coeur d'Alene; Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, who has two GOP primary challengers; Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, who picked up a primary challenger in addition to his Democratic opponent; Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, who now has two GOP challengers vying in the May primary; and Rep. Pat Takasugi, R-Wilder, who drew two Democratic challengers.
Sen. Melinda Smyser drew a Democratic challenger, Shannon Forrester of Caldwell; Rep. Bob Schaefer, R-Nampa, will face Democrat Maria Mabbutt; and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, will face Democrat William J. Young in November. Rep. Max Black, R-Boise, has drawn a primary challenger, Mark Patterson; Sen. Les Bock, D-Boise, will face Republican Bill Eisenbarth; and Sen. Eliot Werk, D-Boise, drew two Republican challengers, Lucas Baumbach and T. Allen Hoover.
Republican Mitch Toryanski of Boise jumped into the District 18 Senate race - that's the one where Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, isn't seeking re-election, and Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, is runing for her seat, as are, now, three Republicans. Also in District 18, Durst's current seat has one Democrat, Janie Ward-Engelking, and two Republicans, former Rep. Julie Ellsworth and Gregory E. Ferch, in the running. Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, has drawn two Republican challengers, Trevor Grigg and Becky Young. Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise, now has two primary challengers, Thomas E. Dayley and Roger Koyle of Boise, along with Democratic challenger Sean Carrick of Kuna.
Rep. Bert Stevenson, R-Rupert, drew a challenge from Democrat Scott McClure of Jerome; Rep. Jim Marriott, R-Blackfoot, will be challenged by Democrat Mark Gabrylczyk; and Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, drew a last-minute Democratic challenger, Neil M. Williams of Idaho Falls.
