High turnout marks Shoshone County election; assessor race remains tight

SHOSHONE COUNTY – Shoshone County voters turned out in strong numbers for Tuesday's general election, with unofficial results showing 64% voter turnout, an increase of roughly 12 percentage points from the primary election and a continuation of the county's recent trend of robust participation. 

With all 14 precincts reporting, Republican candidates carried nearly every legislative, statewide and federal race in the county, while local contests produced one of the night's closest races. 

In county races, Republican Tami Atkins won the District 2 seat on the Shoshone County Board of Commissioners with 2,749 votes, or 60.18%, to 1,816 votes, or 39.75%, for Democrat Jay L. Huber. 

The county assessor race was the closest contest on the ballot. Democrat Katie Murray received 2,296 votes, or 50.19%, while Republican Robert Savage earned 2,279 votes, or 49.81%, leaving Murray with a 17-vote lead in unofficial returns. 

The 17-vote margin falls outside Idaho's threshold for a publicly funded recount. While Savage could still request a recount, state law generally requires the requesting candidate to pay the cost when the margin exceeds five votes or 0.1% of all votes cast, whichever is greater.  

Murray's lead could still change during the canvassing process as election officials review provisional ballots and reconcile election returns before certification. 

Republican Julie Hernandez won the race for Shoshone County coroner with 2,486 votes, or 54.57%, defeating incumbent Democrat Richard "Rick" Smith, who received 2,070 votes, or 45.43%. 

Republicans swept all three District 2 legislative races in the county. Phil Hart won the state Senate race with 2,917 votes, or 64.05%, while Democrat Valerie Wade received 1,637 votes, or 35.95%. Heather Scott captured House Seat A with 3,134 votes, or 69.54%, to 1,373 votes, or 30.46%, for Democrat Birgid Niedenzu, and Dale Hawkins won House Seat B with 3,058 votes, or 68.09%, compared with 1,433 votes, or 31.91%, for Democrat Sabine Krier. 

Districtwide, Republicans also held commanding leads. With three of five localities reporting, Hart led Wade 69.58% to 30.42%, while Scott and Hawkins each topped 70% in their respective House races. 

Republican candidates posted similarly strong performances in statewide contests. Gov. Brad Little carried Shoshone County with 64.40% of the vote, while Scott Bedke won the lieutenant governor race with 68.96%. Phil McGrane received 69.60% in the secretary of state race, Brandon D. Woolf earned 72.17% in the controller race, Julie Ellsworth received 69.78% in the treasurer's race, Raul Labrador won 67.57% in the attorney general contest and Debbie Critchfield received 66.63% in the superintendent of public instruction race. 

Statewide returns reflected a similar trend. With 36 of 44 localities reporting, Little led Democrat Terri Pickens with 56.49% of the vote. Republicans also held comfortable leads in the state's remaining constitutional offices, including Bedke, McGrane, Woolf, Ellsworth, Labrador and Critchfield. 

Federal races followed a similar pattern. Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch carried Shoshone County with 2,943 votes, or 65.13%, while Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher received 2,934 votes, or 64.20%, in Idaho's 1st Congressional District race. 

Statewide, The Associated Press called the U.S. Senate race for Risch and the 1st Congressional District race for Fulcher. Risch received nearly 56% of the statewide vote, while Fulcher led with more than 63%. 

Voters also weighed in on several statewide ballot measures. 

Shoshone County voters rejected House Joint Resolution 4, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have reserved authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances exclusively to the Idaho Legislature. The measure received 33.11% support locally, while 66.89% of voters opposed it. Statewide, the measure also appeared headed for defeat, with 66.41% voting against it. 

Voters approved House Joint Resolution 6, establishing English as Idaho's official language and requiring its use in most public proceedings and documents unless otherwise required by federal law. The amendment passed with 75.42% support in Shoshone County and was receiving 62.58% support statewide. 

Shoshone County voters also rejected Proposition 1, the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, by a 59.49% to 40.51% margin. Statewide, the measure trailed with 55.36% of voters opposed. 

In an advisory vote connected to House Bill 932, the Winchester Model 1873, commonly known as the "Gun That Won the West," narrowly finished first in Shoshone County with 27.71% of the vote, followed by the Winchester Model 1894 at 27.50% and the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle at 19.23%. 

Statewide, the Winchester Model 1873 also led the field with 31.33% support, followed by the Winchester Model 1894 at 25.38% and the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver at 15.16%. 

The unofficial results remain subject to canvassing and certification in the coming weeks.