BIG TURNOUT: Ted Cruz takes Idaho — Trump second, Rubio third
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For complete results on the Republican Primary Election visit our election page here.
IDAHO FALLS — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz overwhelming won the Gem State’s Republican presidential primary election on Tuesday, March 8.
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, with 938 of 955 precincts reporting and some 214,636 ballots cast in Idaho — Cruz had amassed 45 percent of the vote. Donald Trump received 28 percent, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio took 16 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich took 8 percent.
Idaho’s 32 Republican delegates were split between Cruz and Trump. Idaho uses a proportional system to divide its delegates — candidates were required to get at least 20 percent of the vote to be awarded any delegates. If a candidate had won 50 percent, he would have taken all the delegates.
Voter turnout across the state appeared to be significant higher than during the last presidential primary in 2008, when 125,500 Republicans voted, according to CNN. (In 2012, Idaho Republicans and Democrats held caucuses for the presidential election, rather than primary elections.)
It’s unclear Wednesday morning what percentage of total registered Republicans voted in this election.
Officials in several east Idaho counties spoke about major voter attendance at the polls.
Some 16,795 Republican ballots were cast in Bonneville County, according to unofficial results — a huge increase from the 6,227 Republican ballots cast in 2008 during the race between John McCain and Ron Paul.
“We had a much larger turnout than we expected — especially considering is was only Republicans and the Constitution party voting,” Bonneville County Election Supervisor Penny Manning told EastIdahoNews.com.
Madison County Clerk Kim Muir called the turnout in the Rexburg-area “incredible.”
“This is definitely the biggest turnout for a primary we’ve had in four years,” Muir said. “The polls have been busy all day.”
Some 7,102 ballots were submitted in Madison — way up from the Republican 3,900 ballots cast in 2008.
In Lemhi County, one of the most rural areas in eastern Idaho, County Clerk Terri Morton said there was a “huge turnout.” However, that may have been because of a local school levy election that was also held Tuesday. Nearly 51 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in Lemhi, compared to the 20 to 30 percent of registered voters, which Morton said normally vote during primaries.
Officials partly attribute the high voter turnout to the date change in the presidential primary. This was the first Idaho presidential primary held in March. The 2008 primary was held in May, after a nominee had already been chosen. The date change was passed into law last year.
Cruz appeared to be the favorite candidate in east Idaho, as well as across the state. Every east Idaho county picked Cruz in favor the other candidates — except for Lemhi County, where 38 percent voted for Trump, with Cruz taking second place with 30 percent.
Rubio took second place in several east Idaho counties receiving the highest percentage — 31 percent — in Clark County, followed by 29 percent in Bonneville and 27 percent in Madison.
Trump placed second in several other counties in this part of the state. He received 23 percent in Teton, 22 percent in Caribou and 21 percent in Power counties.
In the Constitution Party primary election, also held Tuesday, candidates Scott Copeland, J.R. Myers and Patrick Anthony Ockander had received about 474 votes statewide by 7 a.m. Wednesday. Copeland won with 51 percent of the vote.
For complete results on the Republican presidential primary, visit our election page here.