Bonner County Primary Results: BCRCC-Backed Candidates Win Key Races, Voter Turnout Tops 45%
Bonner County, Idaho — Conservative candidates endorsed by the Bonner County Republican Central Committee swept several of the area’s most powerful elected positions in Idaho’s May 19 primary, according to unofficial results from the Idaho Secretary of State. Voter turnout in Bonner County exceeded 45 percent, with officials describing participation as consistent with previous primary cycles.
All vote totals remain unofficial until the state canvass deadline of Tuesday, June 9, when election officials will certify the results.
BCRCC Candidates Dominate Local and Legislative Races
Bonner County’s Republican Party has been visibly divided in recent cycles between a more conservative bloc aligned with the Bonner County Republican Central Committee and its endorsed slate, and a faction viewed as comparatively moderate, associated with figures such as incumbent Sen. Jim Woodward and Rep. Mark Sauter. Tuesday’s primary largely broke in favor of the BCRCC wing.
The most closely watched local contest was the Legislative District 1 state Senate race, where former Sen. Scott Herndon challenged incumbent Jim Woodward — a rematch of prior primary battles Woodward had won in 2018 and 2024. This time, Herndon prevailed by a margin of approximately 1,040 votes, securing the Republican nomination. He will face Independent Steve Johnson in the November 3 general election.
“I’m honored by the trust District 1 voters placed in me and in the full slate of conservative candidates who won last night,” Herndon said in a statement. “My next steps are simple: prepare for the November general election and continue the work voters sent me to do — property tax relief, parental rights and accountable government.”
Herndon, who has served as BCRCC chair and Westmond precinct committeeman, was affiliated in the legislature with a bloc of Idaho’s most conservative lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight. Several members of that group did not survive their own primary races elsewhere in the state, though Herndon emerged from his contest successfully.
In the District 1 House race, BCRCC-endorsed challenger Jane Sauter defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Sauter — no relation — by the same margin of roughly 1,040 votes. She will face Democrat Karen Matthee in November. “This victory belongs to all of us who believe Idaho is worth protecting and that government works best when it remains accountable to the people,” Sauter wrote in a public statement following her win.
Incumbent Rep. Cornel Rasor fared more decisively, turning back a challenge from Chuck Lowman by nearly 4,000 votes to claim the Republican nomination for District 1. He will face Democratic candidate Birgid Niedenzu in the fall.
County Commission and Statewide Races
At the county level, Bonner County District 2 Commissioner Asia Williams lost her seat to challenger Jeff Roberts by approximately 3,500 votes — another outcome favorable to the BCRCC majority. Roberts, who will advance to the general election uncontested, is affiliated with the John Birch Society and the Three Percenters. “Throughout this campaign, I have leaned on faith, trusting in God’s divine providence,” Roberts wrote following his victory.
At the statewide level, incumbent Gov. Brad Little secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination and will face Democratic challenger Terri Pickens in November. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Risch also won the Republican Senate nomination and will compete against Democrat David Roth and Libertarian Matt Loesby. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher claimed the Republican nomination for Congressional District 1 and will face Democrat Kaylee Peterson in the general election. Voters can review information on participating in future elections via a voter confidence guide published ahead of the May primary.
Bonner County Clerk Mike Rosedale noted that the logistics of this year’s primary were particularly complex. “This is the most complicated election out of every two-year cycle,” Rosedale said, citing three active political parties plus nonpartisan ballot faces at every precinct. Some precincts, such as the Airport Precinct, required as many as 16 distinct ballot types. Counting and verification kept election staff and volunteers working into the early morning hours of May 20.
What Comes Next
All primary results remain unofficial until certified by election officials on June 9. Most BCRCC-backed winners will face challengers from opposing parties in the November 3 general election, making the fall contest a significant test of whether conservative momentum from the primary translates to broader Bonner County support. Statewide, the primary results reflect an ongoing ideological contest within Idaho’s dominant Republican Party, with outcomes varying by region. For broader context on Idaho’s political landscape heading into the general election, see additional statewide coverage at Idaho News.