Keough: Negative IFF flyers backfired

Three North Idaho lawmakers lost their seats in Tuesday’s primary election. The three – Reps. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d’Alene, and Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; and Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood – have something in common: They’re all among the top 10 scorers in the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “Freedom Index.” The conservative lobbying group launched a new campaigning arm this year, Idaho Freedom Action, and pushed hard to boost lawmakers like these three and take out other Republicans it deemed too moderate. But the push largely failed. Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, a top IFA target, defeated his primary challenger with 58.4 percent of the vote. “Their messaging was consistent, persistent and false, and the voters saw right through it,” Malek said. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, another top target of the group, said the numerous negative mailers against her appeared to backfire/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .