Race Summary

Lt. Gov. Jim Risch currently leads former Rep. Larry LaRocco 2-0 in elections where they've faced off. This Senate contest is the second meeting of the two candidates in the last two years, and the third election overall. 

They also faced off in the 2006 lieutenant governor's race, in which Risch was technically running for re-election, though he had ascended to the governorship in May of that year. Risch had taken over after Gov. Kempthorne left office to serve as Pres. Bush's Interior Secretary. But Risch decided to run for re-election, rather than compete with Butch Otter in the GOP primary for governor. Risch defeated LaRocco 58%-39%.

Risch also defeated LaRocco in a 1986 election for the state Senate.

Previous Election Results

Senate
2004: Crapo (R) 99, Other 1
2002: Craig (R) 65, Blinken (D) 33
1998: Crapo (R) 70, Mauk (D) 28
1996: Craig (R) 57, Minnick (D) 40

President
2004: Bush (R) 68, Kerry (D) 30
2000: Bush (R) 67, Gore (D) 28
1996: Dole (R) 52, Clinton (D) 34

Demographics