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SSPA Professor Emeritus Jim Weatherby commented in Monday’s Idaho Statesman on the upcoming legislative races in the state, and the chances of the Democratic Party gaining seats. To read the full story visit the Idaho Statesman online.

A red flag: In a hopeful year for Democrats, many Idaho Legislature races go uncontested

Failure of Democrats to vie for uncontested legislative seats may be ‘a missed opportunity’ for the party.

BY HEATH DRUZIN - hdruzin[at]dahostatesman[dot]com
Edition Date: 08/18/08

In a year when Idaho Democrats hope to ride presidential coattails to success in state elections, nearly 40 percent of state legislative races are uncontested by the party.

“There are seats that we could have, would have, should have, liked to have candidates for,” said Idaho Democratic Party spokesman Chuck Oxley.

Democrats hold only 26 of 105 seats in the Legislature, and Republicans hold every statewide elected position. The GOP has held the governor’s office for the past 14 years. Idaho hasn’t gone Democratic in a presidential election since 1964.

But Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama drew 14,000 people to a February speech in Boise, and his visit bolstered participation in the Idaho party’s political caucuses a few days later.

“It appears at this point a missed opportunity for the Democrats in not filling those seats, but that’s more easily said than done for a party that struggles to even maintain major party status in this state,” said veteran Idaho political watcher Jim Weatherby, a retired Boise State University professor.

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