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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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White supremacist sheriff candidate hosts cross burning in Bonner County

White supremacist sheriff candidate hosts cross burning in Bonner County

Primary rivalry heats up in GOP

BOISE - With Idaho’s first closed GOP primary just a week away, Idaho Republicans are turning on each other with a ferocity unseen in decades. Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday revealed everything from House Republican leadership money being funneled into efforts to defeat a member of House Republican leadership, to a Coeur d’Alene representative targeting two fellow North Idaho GOP lawmakers for defeat.

Idaho Republicans turn on one another

Idaho Republicans turn on one another

Idaho Republicans turn on one another

With Idaho’s first closed GOP primary just a week away, Idaho Republicans are turning on each other with a ferocity unseen in decades. Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday revealed everything from House Republican leadership money being funneled into efforts to defeat a member of House Republican leadership, to a Coeur d’Alene representative targeting two fellow North Idaho GOP lawmakers for defeat. Endorsements are being given and withdrawn, two Kootenai County GOP groups are clawing at each other’s right to invoke the name of Ronald Reagan, and independent groups are mounting their own campaigns, either boosting or bashing various GOP incumbents under names like Free Enterprise PAC and Idaho Prosperity Fund.

Rep. Nonini targets two fellow North Idaho GOP lawmakers for defeat, finance reports show

Rep. Nonini targets two fellow North Idaho GOP lawmakers for defeat, finance reports show

‘GunPAC’ taps House leadership $$ to target gun shop owner, vets’ advocate, and House leader

‘GunPAC’ taps House leadership $$ to target gun shop owner, vets’ advocate, and House leader

Denney, Moyle use House leadership PAC to try to defeat Roberts

Denney, Moyle use House leadership PAC to try to defeat Roberts

90% of Sen. Pearce’s campaign spending went for defense attorney for ethics complaint

90% of Sen. Pearce’s campaign spending went for defense attorney for ethics complaint

Pro-business groups back incumbents with Libertarian-leaning rivals

Pro-business groups back incumbents with Libertarian-leaning rivals

Trib: Going Along To Get Along

Trib: Going Along To Get Along

Sali pitches for Hart at CdA fundraiser

Sali pitches for Hart at CdA fundraiser

The latest campaign finance reports…

The latest campaign finance reports…

IACI tries again to defeat Sen. Corder, after failing in 2008

IACI tries again to defeat Sen. Corder, after failing in 2008

Much at stake in May 15 primary, and small numbers of partisans could make the calls…

Much at stake in May 15 primary, and small numbers of partisans could make the calls…

Ron Paul backers plot to overturn caucus results, using little-noticed precinct races on May 15 ballot

Ron Paul backers plot to overturn caucus results, using little-noticed precinct races on May 15 ballot

Low vote turnout in Idaho feared

Much is at stake in Idaho’s May 15 primary election, from hotly contested county races to every seat in the Legislature. Because Republicans so completely dominate state politics, many of those races will be decided in the primary. But this year, for the first time, only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary – and more than a third of Idaho’s voters identify themselves as independents. Add to that primaries that draw low turnouts, redistricting that’s added to voter confusion by shifting many into different districts with unfamiliar candidates, and the lack of a presidential primary, since both state parties already handled that with caucuses, and “you could have a weak fringe candidate win in a primary like that,” said Jim Weatherby, Boise State University emeritus professor of public policy and longtime Idaho political observer.

The latest last-minute campaign contributions…

The latest last-minute campaign contributions…

Nonini donates to Cameron challenger

BOISE – State Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, who’s running for the Idaho Senate, has made a last-minute, $1,000 campaign donation through his political action committee to the primary election challenger of the sitting chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. That’s a form of political heresy in the Idaho Senate that Nonini hopes to join, where past attempts to back challengers to fellow GOP incumbents have brought major sanctions from the Republican caucus.

Senate candidate Nonini backs primary challenger to 11-term GOP Sen. Cameron

Senate candidate Nonini backs primary challenger to 11-term GOP Sen. Cameron

Nonini backs rival to 11-term fellow GOP lawmaker

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, who’s running for the Idaho Senate, has made a last-minute $1,000 campaign donation through his PAC to the primary election challenger of the sitting chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert.