The Idaho Associated General Contractors has endorsed challenger Megan Blanksma over Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, in a GOP House primary race in District 23; it’s the first challenger the contractors’ group has endorsed over an incumbent this year. Nielsen, a seven-term representative, apologized this year after repeatedly making statements in legislative hearings and media interviews that he believed rape and incest are unlikely to result in pregnancy; and also was arrested this year for poaching an elk. Neither of those were among the reasons for the endorsement. Wayne Hammon, Idaho AGC executive director, said Blanksma’s positions better match the group’s on its issues.

“In Megan, we found a candidate who understands ... that government over-regulation is harmful to the construction industry, but understands that Idaho, given its nature as a large rural state, requires infrastructure investment,” Hammon said. “If we’re going to keep growing the economy, especially in Elmore, Owyhee and Twin Falls counties, we’re going to have to make improvements, and she gets that.”

Hammon said he researched the voting records of lawmakers this year to prepare for the group’s endorsement process, and Nielsen, 77, was the only lawmaker to score a zero on the group’s scorecard for his seven terms in office. “Over the course of his career, he never once voted for an AGC-supported bill,” Hammon said. The bills included GARVEE bonding, road funding, and measures dealing with contractors.

The contractors group has so far made 24 endorsements in primary races, and still is working on more. Twenty-three of the endorsements went to Republicans in contested primary races, including Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; and Reps. Eric Redman, R-Athol, and Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene. One went to a Democrat in a contested primary race, Rep. John  McCrostie, D-Boise.

Blanksma is a farmer from Hammett and the current Elmore County GOP chair. Nielsen also faces another GOP challenger, Justin Freeman of Marsing.