Idaho Senator Jim Risch Secures Fourth Term With 56.5% of Vote
Risch defeated three challengers after the Democratic nominee withdrew in late July, securing 391,395 votes in a race that lacked a major party opponent.
By Nadia Singh ·
Incumbent Senator Jim Risch won reelection to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
The 83-year-old Republican from Idaho secured a fourth term with 391,395 votes. That total represented 56.5% of the ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. The election results were confirmed with 97% of total votes tallied.
Risch faced three challengers in this general election. Independent candidate Todd Achilles finished second with 33.6% of the vote. Independent candidate Natalie Fleming received 7% of the total. Libertarian candidate Matt Loesby garnered 2.9% of the vote.
President Donald Trump endorsed Risch during the campaign. The president posted on Truth Social that the senator "is doing a tremendous job." Risch has served in the Senate since 2009. His legislative record includes work on natural resource management, forestry policy, and water infrastructure. As the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he helped author the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act regarding Asia. He also supported NATO expansion and defense measures following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The race changed shape in late July when Democrat David Roth dropped out. Roth had won the Democratic primary in May with approximately 62% of the vote. In a statement posted on his campaign website, Roth said he decided to end his campaign after careful consideration. He stated, "I entered this race because I believe deeply in what Democrats are fighting for across Idaho. A full week of work should be enough to pay the bills. Every family deserves affordable healthcare. Government should protect our freedoms, not dictate what books we can read, who we can love, or how we live our lives."
Roth added that he could make the greatest difference by helping Democrats win up and down the ballot in Idaho communities.
