2018 Idaho lieutenant gubernatorial primary election explained

The 2018 election for Lieutenant Governor of Idaho took place on May 15, 2018. The primary election selected the candidates from each party to run in the November 6, 2018 general election for lieutenant governor of Idaho. Lieutenant governors serve a four-year term or terms. In 2018, the incumbent lieutenant governor, Brad Little, won the Republican nomination for governor and declined to run for re-election in order to run for governor.

Democratic primary candidates

• Kristin Collum of Boise, Idaho^[1]
• Jim Fabe of Ketchum, Idaho

Results

Kristin Collum received 52,417 votes and 88.2% of the votes and Jim Fabe received 6,987 votes and 11.8% of the votes.^[2]

Republican primary candidates

• Marv Hagedorn of Meridian, Idaho
• Janice McGeachin of Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Bob Nonini of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
• Kelley Packer of McCammon, Idaho
• Stephen J. Yates of Boise, Idaho^[3]

Withdrawn candidates

• Rebecca W. Arnold of Boise, Idaho^[4]

Primary

On March 3, 2018, Bob Nonini reportedly nodded when asked at a candidates forum if the punishment for getting an abortion should include the death penalty. However, he has denied ever having nodded in agreement. "Prosecutions have always been focused on the abortionist," he said later, but such a law and "...the threat of prosecution, would dramatically reduce abortion. That is my goal."^[5]

Results

Janice McGeachin received a plurality of the votes in this primary garnering 51,098 votes and 28.9% of the votes. This was followed by Steve Yates with 48,269 votes and 27.3%, Marv Hargedorn with 26,653 votes and 15.1%, Bob Nonini with 26,556 votes and 15.0%, and Kelley Packer with 24,513 votes and 13.8%.

Voter eligibility

Idaho's closed primary election allows only registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters the option of voting to select the next Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. Any registered or unregistered voter may vote in the Democratic primary to select the next lieutenant governor candidate from the two candidates running. Idaho has a same-day voter registration system which allows any voter to register to vote at a polling place on election day.^[6]

General Election

Janice McGeachin was elected Idaho's 43rd Lieutenant Governor with 356,507 votes and 59.7% of the votes and Kristin Collum received 240,355 votes and 40.3% of the votes.^[7]

By congressional district

McGeachin won both congressional districts.^[8]

District	McGeachin	Collum	Representative
	64%	36%		Raúl Labrador (115th Congress)
			Russ Fulcher (116th Congress)
		55%	45%		Mike Simpson

See also

• Idaho gubernatorial election, 2018

Notes and References

1. Web site: These women are now running to be Idaho's governor, lt. governor as a joint ticket . CYNTHIA . CYNTHIA . 2018-05-08 . Idaho Statesman . 2018-05-09.
2. Web site: Statewide Totals . sos.idaho.gov . Idaho Secretary of State . 28 June 2021.
3. Web site: Report Declaration.
4. Web site: Russell . Betsy . Why Rebecca Arnold filed to run for lieutenant governor, and why she withdrew… . spokesman.com . Spokesman-Review . 28 June 2021.
5. Web site: Sinclair . Harriet . Death penalty for abortions would be good deterrent for women, says Republican Candidate . . March 4, 2018 . March 4, 2018 .
6. Web site: Vote Idaho - Voting Information and Resources for Idaho.
7. Web site: Brown . Ruth . Republican Janice McGeachin wins Idaho's lt. gov. race over Kristin Collum . idahostatesman.com . Idaho Statesman . 28 June 2021.
8. https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::14e046b2-98a2-4b59-bfe3-6c8afee85f43