Idaho Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Democratic Party is an Idaho
political party
affiliated with the United States Democratic Party
. Although the party has been in the minority for most of the state's history, it has produced several notable public figures, including the late U.S. Senator Frank Church
and former governor and Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus
.
Democratic strength in Idaho is concentrated in Blaine County
and Pocatello
, as well as parts of Boise
and the Idaho Panhandle
region. Trade union
support has traditionally been a key component of Democratic success in Idaho.
Richard Stallings
, a former member of the United States House of Representatives
from Idaho, had served as the party's chair since 2005. Stallings was reelected in 2007, but resigned in December of that year. He was succeeded by Hailey
attorney R. Keith Roark in January 2008]. Former state legislator and 2006 U.S. House candidate Jim D. Hansen
serves as the party's executive director.
In 2008 the Idaho Democratic Party won its first Congressional race in 16 years when Walt Minnick
defeated Republican
incumbent Bill Sali
in the state's First Congressional District
. The party currently does not hold any major seats at the state or federal level, however Boise
Mayor David H. Bieter
ranks as one of the state's better known Democrats.
State Legislature
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
affiliated with the United States Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Although the party has been in the minority for most of the state's history, it has produced several notable public figures, including the late U.S. Senator Frank Church
Frank Church
Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
and former governor and Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus
Cecil D. Andrus
Cecil Dale Andrus was an American politician who served as Governor of Idaho from 1971 to 1977, and again from 1987 to 1995; and in Washington as United States Secretary of the Interior from 1977 to 1981, during the Carter administration...
.
Democratic strength in Idaho is concentrated in Blaine County
Blaine County, Idaho
Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 21,376. The county seat and largest city is Hailey. The county is home to the Sun Valley ski resort....
and Pocatello
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
, as well as parts of Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and the Idaho Panhandle
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
region. Trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
support has traditionally been a key component of Democratic success in Idaho.
Richard Stallings
Richard H. Stallings
Richard Howard Stallings represented the Idaho Second District in the House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993. Stallings also served in several other state and local political offices over the course of a 22-year political career.Stallings earned degrees from Weber State College, Utah State...
, a former member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Idaho, had served as the party's chair since 2005. Stallings was reelected in 2007, but resigned in December of that year. He was succeeded by Hailey
Hailey, Idaho
Hailey is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, in the Wood River Valley of the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,200 at the 2000 census. Hailey is the site of Friedman Memorial Airport , the airport for the resort area of Sun Valley/Ketchum, north. The town...
attorney R. Keith Roark in January 2008]. Former state legislator and 2006 U.S. House candidate Jim D. Hansen
Jim D. Hansen
Jim D. Hansen is an American attorney, activist and Democratic politician from Idaho. He was the 2006 Democratic nominee for United States House of Representatives in the Idaho Second Congressional District, and was defeated by incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Simpson.In April 2008 Hansen was...
serves as the party's executive director.
In 2008 the Idaho Democratic Party won its first Congressional race in 16 years when Walt Minnick
Walt Minnick
Walter Clifford "Walt" Minnick is the former U.S. House of Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
defeated Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Bill Sali
Bill Sali
William Thomas "Bill" Sali served a single term in the United States House of Representatives, representing from 2007 to 2009. Sali previously served in the Idaho Legislature as a member of the House....
in the state's First Congressional District
Idaho's 1st congressional district
Idaho's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Idaho. The district encompasses the western and northern parts of the state and includes the western third of the state capital, Boise, and most of its suburbs, including Nampa, Caldwell, and Meridian...
. The party currently does not hold any major seats at the state or federal level, however Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
Mayor David H. Bieter
David H. Bieter
David H. Bieter has served as mayor of Boise, Idaho since 2004.-Biography:Bieter was born in Boise and graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 1978. Bieter earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from University of St...
ranks as one of the state's better known Democrats.
State LegislatureIdaho LegislatureThe Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...
- Senate Minority Leader: Edgar J. Malepeai
- House Minority Leader: John Rusche
2008 nominees for major offices
- United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
: Larry LaRoccoLarry LaRoccoLarry LaRocco is a Democratic politician from the US state of Idaho, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. LaRocco was defeated by Republican Jim Risch for the open U.S. Senate seat in Idaho in 2008.... - United States House of Representatives, District 1: Walt MinnickWalt MinnickWalter Clifford "Walt" Minnick is the former U.S. House of Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
- United States House of Representatives, District 2: Debbie HolmesDebbie HolmesDeborah "Debbie" Holmes is a Democratic politician from Idaho. She was the 2008 Democratic nominee for United States House of Representatives in the Idaho Second Congressional District, and faced incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Simpson in the general election.Holmes is a trained chemist and...
2010 nominees for major offices
- United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
: Tom SullivanTom SullivanThomas, Tom, or Tommy Sullivan may refer to:*Thomas Sullivan , American author of short stories and novels*Thomas Crook Sullivan , American general during the American Civil War... - United States House of Representatives, District 1: Walt MinnickWalt MinnickWalter Clifford "Walt" Minnick is the former U.S. House of Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
- United States House of Representatives, District 2: Mike Crawford