As we head into the final two weeks of the May campaign, we’re heading straight into endorsement season.
Here’s the roundup from Tuesday’s flurry of announcements:
Balukoff lines up more backing. A.J. Balukoff received backing from four more sitting legislators — continuing a trend in the Democratic gubernatorial race.
The latest endorsements came from Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb and Reps. Mat Erpelding and Melissa Wintrow, all representing Boise’s north and east ends, and Sen. Mark Nye of Pocatello.
The tally, as reported by Cynthia Sewell of the Idaho Statesman: 12 legislative Democrats have endorsed Balukoff, picking the longtime Boise school trustee over former colleague Paulette Jordan, who resigned from the Legislature early this year to focus on her gubernatorial run.
Jordan has received several national endorsements, but the legislative endorsements have become a sensitive subject in the Democratic primary. Jordan has said she never sought endorsements from her legislative colleagues, saying she wanted the caucus to remain neutral and united heading into the elections.
Labrador secures Statehouse endorsements. Calling him the one “tried and tested and proven” conservative in the race, 35 present and past legislators endorsed U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador’s gubernatorial bid.
Among the lawmakers who signed a letter of support: House Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane and House Majority Caucus Chairman John Vander Woude, both of Nampa, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Steve Vick of Dalton Gardens. Labrador also received support from Senate Education Committee Chairman Dean Mortimer and eight members of the Senate and House education committees. Mortimer is hosting a meet and greet at his Idaho Falls home on Labrador’s behalf Wednesday afternoon.
VanderSloot backs Fulcher. Frank VanderSloot’s base of operations is in Idaho Falls, a good 250 miles east of the 1st Congressional District. But that didn’t stop the prominent GOP power broker from throwing his support behind 1st District candidate Russ Fulcher.
Fulcher, a former state senator from Meridian, is one of seven Republicans in the running for Labrador’s current seat in Congress.
More reading: Stay current on campaign news, and read candidate profiles, on the Idaho Education News elections page.
