Election night live blog, 11.03.20

12:13 a.m.: We have almost complete Ada County results: Only one of 151 precincts is uncounted, a precinct in Boise’s legislative District 17.

So here’s how things look:

  • Ada County Commissioner: Republican Ryan Davidson holds about a 6,000-vote lead over Democrat Diana Lachiondo, translating to a 51 percent majority. Republican Rod Beck holds a 54 percent majority. It appears the GOP will reclaim a 2-1 majority on the commission.
  • Legislative District 15: Sen. Fred Martin, R-Boise, is re-elected with a 53 percent majority. Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, is re-elected with a 51 percent majority. Boise Republican Codi Galloway ousts first-term Rep. Jake Ellis, D-Boise, with a 53 percent majority.
  • The other legislative races: No surprises. No close races either. Republicans easily retain seats in the west end of Ada County, Districts 14, 20, 21 and 22. Democrats easily sweep in Boise’s Districts 16, 17, 18 and 19.
  • College of Western Idaho trustees: Two new trustees have unseated incumbents. In Zone 1, Samantha Guerrero (139,728 votes, or 55 percent) ousted Skip Smyser (113,775 votes), a former legislator. In Zone 3, April Baylon-Mendoza  (124,044 votes, or 51 percent) ousted Mary “M.C.” Niland (117,345 votes), a founding trustee. In Zone 5, retiring state Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb was running unopposed to succeed the retiring Mark Dunham. CWI trustees run across Ada and Canyon counties, and we have complete numbers for Canyon County.

With that, I’m calling the live blog for the night. We’ll sort out the other legislative races in the morning, while waiting on that president’s race.

11:50 p.m.: In West Boise’s battleground legislative District 15, the magic number for now is 52.

Incumbent Sen. Fred Martin is leading Boise Democrat Rick Just, with 52 percent support. House Education Committee member Steve Berch, D-Boise, is leading former House Education vice chairman Patrick McDonald, a Boise Republican, also with 52 percent support. Boise Republican Codi Galloway is leading state Rep. Jake Ellis, again with a 52 percent majority.

These numbers cover 12 of the district’s 16 precincts.

11:04 p.m.: Republicans Ryan Davidson and Rod Beck now lead in the two contested Ada County commissioners’ races. The race between Davidson and Democratic incumbent Diana Lachiondo has an unusual education nexus: Lachiondo has been a vocal member of the Central District Health board, which has dealt with school reopening issues. Davidson holds close to 51 percent of the vote.

10:52 p.m.: Another potential legislative flip: former state Sen. Dan Foreman, a Moscow Republican, is leading Sen. David Nelson, D-Moscow. Nelson defeated Foreman in 2018. Foreman holds nearly 63 percent of the vote, but fewer than 5,000 votes have been counted so far.

In District 15, Boise Republican Codi Galloway continues to lead Rep. Jake Ellis, D-Boise, with 52 percent of the vote.

10:36 p.m.: There are two potential changes on the College of Western Idaho’s board of trustees.

Here are the latest numbers from Ada and Canyon counties:

  • Zone 1: Samantha Guerrero, 119,719; Skip Smyser (incumbent), 97,396.
  • Zone 3: April Baylon-Mendoza, 105,745; Mary “M.C.” Niland (incumbent), 101,006.
  • Retiring state Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb is running unopposed in Zone 5.

9:54 p.m.: Interesting to note, so far, are the Ada County numbers at the top of the ticket, based on 60 of 151 precincts:

  • President: Joe Biden, 51 percent; President Trump, 46 percent.
  • U.S. Senate: Paulette Jordan, Democrat, 50 percent; Sen. Jim Risch, Republican, 47 percent.
  • 1st Congressional District: Rep. Russ Fulcher, Republican, 61 percent; Rudy Soto, Democrat, 35 percent.
  • 2nd Congressional District: Aaron Swisher, Democrat, 58 percent; Rep. Mike Simpson, Republican, 39 percent.

9:41 p.m.: It’s really, really early, but I see only one flip in Idaho’s 105 legislative seats. In District 15 in West Boise, Republican Codi Galloway is leading first-term Rep. Jake Ellis, D-Boise. But it’s close: Galloway has 9,625 votes to 9,545 for Ellis.

9:28 p.m.: In the Ada County commissioners’ races, Democrats Diana Lachiondo and Bill Rutherford have early leads, with 56 percent and 53 percent majorities, respectively. Early numbers, 26 of 151 precincts reporting. Lachiondo, an incumbent, has been at the forefront on school reopening issues as a member of the Central District Health board.

9:17 p.m.: Good evening, all. Welcome to the live blog. I will update here through the evening, in between segments on Idaho News 6. If you have comments or questions, hit me up on our Facebook feed, or send me a tweet @KevinRichert.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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