Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson re-elected to 14th term in U.S. House of Representatives
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Kyle Pfannenstiel, Idaho Capital Sun
IDAHO FALLS (Idaho Capital Sun) — Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson won a 14th term to represent Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Associated Press declared Simpson the general election winner at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday.
Simpson had 61.4% of votes over three challengers, with 234,444 votes, according to unofficial election results from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office at 2:09 a.m. Wednesday. Democrat David Roth received 30.9% of the votes.
Libertarian Todd Corsetti received 5.3% of votes, and Constitution Party candidate Idaho Law — Carta Sierra received 2.4% of votes.
Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District — home to almost 1 million people — splits Ada County, includes most of Boise, and spans central and eastern Idaho.
In a news release Tuesday night, Simpson thanked voters for support.
“It’s an absolute honor to represent the people of Idaho in Congress, and Idahoans can count on me to continuing my fight for lower taxes, a secure border, energy independence and other policies that ensure Idahoans and our nation thrive,” Simpson wrote in a statement. “I’m deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support by the voters of the Second Congressional District and their confidence in me. I look forward to continue serving our great state.”
Tuesday’s general election results won’t become official until the State Board of Canvassers certifies the election results. The canvass is scheduled to occur Nov. 26, said Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.
In Congress, Simpson’s top priorities are security for the southern border, restoring American energy independence and agriculture reform, he told the Sun last month.
Simpson chairs the House Interior and Environment Subcommittee on Appropriations. He also serves on the House Energy and Water Development Subcommittee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee on Appropriations.
In May, Simpson won the primary election, securing the Idaho Republican Party’s nomination with over 54% of votes over two GOP challengers, the Sun reported.
Simpson, 74, has represented Idaho in Congress since 1999 for 13 terms. U.S. House of Representatives terms are two years.
Simpson has widely won re-election bids. Since 2000, he has won general elections by a nearly 34-point vote margin, on average, over the next top-performing candidates, who ran as Democrats, the Idaho Capital Sun found in a review of past election results reported by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.