RESULTS: Bernie Sanders wins big at east Idaho caucuses
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IDAHO FALLS — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has been declared the winner of Idaho’s Democratic presidential caucuses.
At the end of Tuesday night, statewide results gave Sanders 18,640 votes, or 78 percent, to Clinton’s 5,065 votes, or 21 percent, according to the Idaho Statesman.
Officials reported record crowds throughout the state. Statewide nearly 24,000 people voted, which beat out the 2008 record of 21,000.
The Associated Press reports the Idaho Democratic Party delayed the start time of the Ada County caucus by close to two hours due to long lines that stretched down several blocks in downtown Boise. One Boise councilwoman called the Ada County caucus the largest in the history of the United States.
Even in ultra-conservative eastern Idaho, turnout was higher than many Democratic officials expected.
Some 1,200 Bonneville County residents showed up at Skyline High School Tuesday night.
“It’s a very exciting time because there’s a … great turn out and we’re expecting to see quite a few people here,” Bonneville County Executive Committee member Miranda Marquit told EastIdahoNews.com. “With a caucus it’s a little bit different, because it’s like democracy on the ground floor. We get together and we talk about our ideas, and we talk about what we want to do.”
Attendees had four choices during the caucuses: Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Rocky de la Fuente or uncommitted.
At Skyline, the majority of attendees appeared to support Sanders over Clinton. Idaho Falls volunteer Edith Resendiz was a member of that majority.
“I was really trying to stay neutral this whole election I hadn’t even registered as a Democrat and I didn’t even know where I was leaning in parties,” Resendiz said. “(But) I found myself at a breaking moment with Bernie or Hilary and I found myself supporting Bernie Sanders more.”
Eighteen-year-old Nicholas Stubblefield was voting in a caucus for the first time Tuesday. He voted for Clinton.
“Bernie Sanders appeals emotionally, and he does hit emotional chords I think quite well. However Hilary Clinton hits more on a logical scale where we can see her experience really come out,” Stubblefield said.
At the end of the night, Bonneville County voted 822 to 217 in favor of Sanders over Clinton, which equates to a 79 percent victory for Sanders.
In Bannock County, the Idaho State Journal reports Sanders claimed 1,219 ballots with Clinton at 306 — indicating an 80 to 20 percent split.
The Blackfoot Morning News reports the final vote in Bingham County was 179 ballots for Sanders and 55 for Clinton.
In Madison County 274 people voted with 82 percent going to Sanders and 17 percent to Clinton, according to a Rexburg Standard Journal report. Some 31 people voted in Fremount County with about 83 percent for Sanders and 17 percent for Clinton.
Candidates were required to get at least 15 percent of the vote to qualify for any delegates. Delegates chosen at county caucuses will support their candidate at the state Democratic convention. Those representing the candidates will determine the 27 delegates that go to the national Democratic convention.
Results of Democratic Presidential Caucuses in Idaho 2016
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