Even among Republicans, Canyon County residents voted far differently than Ada County’s

Though many Republicans beat their far-right challengers in Idaho’s primary election, one of the state’s largest counties came out strong for anti-establishment candidates.

In many races, Canyon County voters supported far-right candidates Tuesday instead of their more mainstream opponents. Voters in the state’s second-most populous county also ousted some longtime legislators.

Compared to Ada County, the state’s largest, a larger share of Canyon residents voted for far-right candidates such as Janice McGeachin for governor, Priscilla Giddings for lieutenant governor and Branden Durst for superintendent of public instruction.

Canyon County, with a population of almost 250,000 people, leans further to the right than neighboring Ada County, which has almost 470,000 people. Boise remains a Democratic stronghold for Ada County, but Canyon County has stayed staunchly conservative despite its rapid population growth, one local voter said.

According to unofficial Canyon County election results, Gov. Brad Little beat McGeachin by 12 percentage points. In Ada County, Little beat McGeachin by over 33 points. Little won statewide by about 20 points.

“The influx of the people coming (to Canyon County) are escaping from the politics of California and Oregon and Washington,” said Ron Harriman, chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Canyon County, a citizens group dedicated to tax reform.

Harriman said the committee was mostly split between members who supported Little and McGeachin.

Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, who lost his bid for state Senate, said that historically, traditional Republican candidates in statewide races outperform their statewide averages in Canyon County. That did not happen this year.

Chaney said he expected Little to outperform in Canyon County, where the governor did not reach 50% of the vote.

The race for lieutenant governor between Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke and Giddings was close in Canyon County, with Bedke winning by just 4 percentage points. Bedke won in Ada County by 25 points and beat Giddings statewide by 9.1 points.

Giddings made headlines last year when she shared an article that included the name of a 19-year-old intern who was raped by then-Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger. She was censured by the House.

Durst won in Canyon County for state superintendent against incumbent Sherri Ybarra and Debbie Critchfield, who ended up winning statewide. Durst beat Critchfield in Canyon County by 1.6 percentage points. He finished third in Ada County, 12.3 points behind Critchfield.

Durst made headlines during the campaign for allegations related to child abuse and harassment, which he denied. Durst ran on a platform of opposing mask-wearing and COVID-19 protocols in classrooms — which no longer exist — and promised to abolish critical race theory in Idaho schools, even though educators have said it’s not part of K-12 classrooms.

Chaney ran against Chris Trakel — who finished third in a five-way race for Caldwell mayor last year — for a seat in the Idaho Senate. Chaney had spent four terms in the House but lost his bid for the Senate. Chaney has been a subject of criticism from the right-wing Idaho Freedom Foundation and vocally opposed the think tank’s influence in the Legislature.

Sen. Jeff Agenbroad, R-Nampa, was also ousted from the Legislature in his bid for reelection. Agenbroad was targeted by vicious attack ads from his opponent, Brian Lenney. The ads said Agenbroad “votes like a California liberal,” according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.

Agenbroad denounced the tactics of a local political group called ConservativesOf, which has in recent years influenced local elections, from the schools board to the city council. The shift in Canyon County politics is led by newcomers from places like California, Agenbroad told the Statesman by phone.

“They’re using some tactics that I don’t think represent Idaho, the bullying, the lies, those type of things,” he said. “That behavior is probably more seen in that state than it is in Idaho, but they’ve brought it here with them.”

Chaney thinks there was a concerted effort in Canyon County from dark money groups who issued attack ads and mailers.

“It was quite an anomaly,” Chaney said.

The Concerned Citizens of Canyon County did not support any of the four candidates in Agenbroad’s and Chaney’s races, Harriman said.

“I am really sad to see Agenbroad gone, he was a good senator,” Harriman said. “The guy that took his place is pretty far to the right.”

Idaho Statesman reporter Ryan Suppe contributed.

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