McCann, Foreman lead tight races

District 6 will likely be represented by familiar faces in the Legislature next year, following Tuesday’s primary election.

Incumbent Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, was leading over her opponents in the Republican primary contest for District 6 House representative Seat A, according to election results as of around 11:20 p.m.

McCann had garnered 2,014 votes, followed by Colton Bennett of Moscow with 1,829 and David Dalby with 579. Latah County had 88% of precincts reported, and Nez Perce and Lewis counties were fully reported.

In the district’s Senate race, incumbent Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Viola, narrowly led against Robert Blair. Foreman had 2,215 votes to Blair’s 2,134.

Senate

Foreman completed one term in the Senate and previously served in the chamber for one term until 2018, when he lost in the general election to Democrat David Nelson. Foreman is a member of the very conservative Idaho Freedom Caucus.

During a Moscow Chamber of Commerce forum, Foreman said his “No. 1 plank” in his platform was that “life begins at conception,” the Daily News previously reported.

He wrote in a [http://%20https//latah.idgop.org/guides/dan-foreman/] Latah County Republicans Q-and-A that one of his top priorities is to remove the exemptions in Idaho’s abortion ban for rape and incest.

Blair is a local farmer and adviser for an agriculture technology company; he served as a substitute for Sen. Dan Johnson during the 2022 session.

He said one of his top priorities is to support local control at the city, county, and school district level. Blair also said he wanted to support agriculture, forestry, Gritman Medical Center and the University of Idaho.

If Foreman wins the primary, he will face Democrat Julia Parker in the November general election.

House

McCann has served two terms in the House, and is vice-chairperson of the House Education Committee. She said supporting public education was one of her top priorities, as well as agriculture and property tax relief.

She’s been a vocal opponent to recent proposals to allow state funds to go toward private school education. Her challengers are supportive of these kinds of “school choice” proposals.

The results of this election may change the way Idaho handles education funding to include private schooling, as many races include a similar divide among opponents.

Bennett is a 25-year-old medical assistant at the Moscow hospital and former Army combat medic. His top priorities included reducing property taxes, protecting Idaho’s dams, advancing anti-abortion policies and pushing against federal overreach.

Dalby said his top issues included ensuring parents had a voice in public education, property tax reform and small government.

McCann will face Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart, who ran unopposed in the Democrat primary, in the general election.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Brandon Mitchell and Democrat Kathy Dawes ran unopposed in their primary races for District 6 House Seat B.Copy

Guido covers Idaho politics for the Lewiston Tribune, Moscow-Pullman Daily News and Idaho Press of Nampa. She may be contacted at lguido@idahopress.com and can be found on X @EyeOnBoiseGuido.