A tough day for legislative incumbents

A number of incumbents were ousted in upper valley primary elections Tuesday.

In the District 30A House Seat in Bonneville County, incumbent Jeff Thompson was defeated in the Republican primary by Gary Marshall, 3,269 to 2,205.

In Bingham County’s District 31B House race, incumbent Julie VanOrden was defeated by Republican challenger Julianne Young in a close race, 3,616 to 3,062.

District 32B Representative Tom Loertscher was defeated in his primary race by GOP challenger Chad Christensen. That was also a close race, with Christensen picking up 3,295 votes and Loertscher 3,156.

In District 33 in Idaho Falls, Tony Potts, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of now US Attorney Bart Davis last winter, was defeated by Dave Lent, 2,659 to 1,406.

And, in Rexburg, Doug Ricks defeated incumbent Ron Nate in a close race, 2,994 to 2,835
for the District 34A House nomination.

In District 34B, Britt Raybould won her party’s nomination in a three-way race. She gathered 2,562 votes to Elaine King’s 2,330 and Marshall Merrell’s 904. Raybould hopes to succeed her grandfather, Del Raybould, who has held the position for many years.

In District 35, Van Burtenshaw won the Republican nomination to succeed Jeff Siddoway, who is retiring from the State Senate.

In District 35B, incumbent republican Karey Hanks was defeated by Rod Furniss 4,271 to 4,004.