Foreman secures victory over Nelson

The third time proved a charm for former state Sen. Dan Foreman, who defeated two-term incumbent Sen. David Nelson by 391 votes in Tuesday’s general election.

Foreman was able to flip the script from the past two elections; he lost to Nelson by 2,420 votes in 2018 and 220 votes in 2020.

“It was a long night, but a good night,” he said Wednesday of election night. “I had a support team this time that just blew me away. That’s why we won.”

His 2018 and 2020 election contests with Nelson were in the 5th Legislative District, which included Latah and Benewah counties.

Following the 2021 redistricting process, however, Latah County moved into the 6th Legislative District with Lewis County and the northeastern half of Nez Perce County.

The redesign worked well for Foreman. He lost Latah County to Nelson by 1,838 votes Tuesday, or 55% to 43%, but won Nez Perce County 68% to 31% and won Lewis County 77% to 20%.

The final results showed him with 10,147 votes or 50%, versus 9,756 votes and 48% for Nelson. Constitution Party nominee James Hartley received 400 votes or 2%.

Nelson said Foreman’s lead in Nez Perce and Lewis counties was too big to overcome, but he also thought turnout in Latah County may have contributed to his defeat.

In 2018 and 2020, for example, turnout in Latah County topped 71% and 76%, respectively.

By contrast, unofficial results put Tuesday’s turnout at 67%.

“It’s always hard to get people to vote in a non-presidential election year,” he said.

During his two terms in office, Nelson was the only Democratic lawmaker elected in north Idaho. Following Tuesday’s election, there now aren’t any north of the Treasure Valley.

“We need to continue to reach out to moderate voters,” Nelson said. “If we can’t find common ground with them, I’m not sure how Democrats get any wins. From Kootenai County on north, there’s not a lot of moderates left.”

Former Latah County Commissioner Tom Stroschein may have run into some of that in his bid for the 2nd Legislative District’s House B seat.

The district includes all of Clearwater County — where Stroschein now resides — along with Benewah and Shoshone counties, the easter half of Kootenai County and a sliver of Bonner County.

Stroschein lost to Fernwood Republican Dale Hawkins by a margin of 78% to 18% in Tuesday’s election. Libertarian candidate Jennifer Ann Luoma received 617 votes or 3%.

In the 6th Legislative District’s two House races, incumbent Republicans easily prevailed.

Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, defeated Patricia Carter-Goodheart, of Lapwai, in the House A race by 11,975 votes to 8,157, or 59% to 41%.

In the House B race, Rep. Brandon Mitchell received 11,312 votes or 56%, versus 8,952 votes and 44% for Moscow attorney Tim Gresback.

After the election results are officially certified later this month, all elected lawmakers will take part in a short organization session in Boise at the beginning of December.

Foreman thinks his victory on Tuesday, combined with the success conservative candidates had in the May Republican primary, could affect the outcome of Senate leadership races, which take place during the organizational session.

“This is monumental,” he said. “There’s going to be a bunch of new faces in the Senate, and they’re going to be conservatives. That changes things, and I welcome the change. The Senate has been a little stodgy, set in its ways. It’s not as reactive as the House. It’s been reluctant to embrace cutting-edge legislation, like the House.”

The traditional lead-in to the leadership races takes place in Lewiston next week, when all elected lawmakers are invited to take part in the North Idaho Tour.

Hosted by the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce, the event runs from Monday through Wednesday. It gives lawmakers a chance to learn how various public policy decisions affect the northern part of the state — but it’s also an opportunity for leadership candidates to shake hands, twist arms and line up support before the organizational session.

“I don’t think it will be the normal, boring political meeting this year,” Foreman said. “Behind closed doors, I think there will be a lot of interesting discussions going on.”

Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.