Hundreds of Democrats from across Idaho traveled to Moscow this weekend for the Idaho Democratic Party State Convention, held at the University of Idaho. 

This year, as delegates shape the party’s platform and choose who will represent Idaho at the Democratic National Convention, there’s another source of excitement: For the first time in at least 30 years, a Democrat is running for office in each of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. 

“This is powerful,” said Jared DeLoof, executive director of the Idaho Democrats. “Every single voter in Idaho will have a Democrat to vote for in the state legislature.” 

DeLoof said Idaho Democrats have no illusions about sweeping the Legislature in one go. Rather, he said, this push is part of a 10-year plan to knock out the Idaho GOP’s supermajority.

“We’re at a crossroads in Idaho,” he said. “We’re either going to go off the deep end or we’re going to wrestle the state back.” 

As the Republican-dominated Legislature passes laws that Democrats believe don’t reflect the values of most Idahoans, DeLoof said now is the time to give voters throughout Idaho another option.

He noted a law, set to go into effect July 1, that will open Idaho libraries to lawsuits over materials that patrons believe is harmful to minors. Libraries across the state are grappling with how the law will affect operations.

For example, in order to comply with the new law, the Donnelly Public Library will become an adult-only library beginning July 1. This is because the library is only 1,024 square feet in size, too small to create an adult section that is totally inaccessible to children.

“Unfortunately, the ambiguous language in the legislation leaves us no options but to make some very drastic changes,” the library announced in a news release. 

DeLoof also pointed to two recent additions to the Idaho Republican Party platform, one opposing tax funding for higher education in Idaho and one opposing the destruction of embryos, as areas where he believes the Idaho GOP is out of step with Idahoans. 

“I can’t imagine there’s a lot of excitement for defunding all higher education in the state,” he said.

DeLoof said Idaho Democrats believe that Idahoans are stronger together and the party’s platform will reflect that. 

“The Idaho Democratic Party is, at the end of the day, about making the lives of working people easier,” he said. “It’s about sending your kids to a school that’s adequately funded. It’s about investing in our local economies and job opportunities for our young people so that our kids and grandkids can stay in Idaho and make a living and do better than their parents have done.” 

Evan Koch, chair of the Kootenai County Democrats, said Idaho Democrats are aware of the challenges they face. 

“There is real power in standing up for integrity in government, especially when you know the odds are against you,” Koch said. “We don’t do this because we know we will win. We do this because people deserve to come before politics. Voters say that to us all the time. The message is spreading like wildfire across North Idaho.” 

    Evan Koch