Conflict in Iran looms large as Risch faces Achilles in race for U.S. Senate

POCATELLO and REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – As the conflict in Iran stretches into its seventh month, politicians on both sides of Idaho’s key U.S. Senate race are weighing in on the fight impacting prices at the pump across America.

Local News 8 spoke with the two leading candidates recently on foreign policy and issues close to home.

‘Everybody wants this over as soon as possible’

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, (R)-Idaho, currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In a September interview with Local News 8, he defended President Trump’s decision to enter the war, but issued a call to bring it to a close.

“The president had to make a decision at the time that he did. He had information in front of him, which I know because I saw the same information, that caused him to take the action that he did against Iran to stop them from having a nuclear weapon,” Risch said. “Decades from now, when this information is made public, when it is no longer classified, people will see and understand. Vast numbers will agree that the president had no choice but to take the action that he did. Obviously, everybody wants this over as soon as possible.”

‘There’s no path to win’

Independent candidate Todd Achilles is challenging Risch in the race for U.S. Senate.

Achilles, who previously represented Boise for two years in the Idaho Legislature, served as a tank commander during Operation Desert Storm.

“We all agree that Iran with nuclear weapons is an unacceptable risk. But if we're going to do something against Iran, let's make sure we do it the right way. The problem is the current action,” Achilles said. “There's no clear objectives. There's no path to win. Unfortunately, it seems that we've really just emboldened the Iranians rather than getting them to step back. So we've got a lot of work ahead of us. We've got to get our allies involved. We got to keep the Strait of Hormuz clear., and we need a real plan to how we resolve this in a way where the Iranians don't get nuclear weapons.”

At Home in Idaho

The candidates also responded to questions about the top concerns facing Idahoans today.

“Two things – Congress isn't working. Frankly, it's an embarrassment, and there's a rigged economy," Achilles said. "It's too hard to get by, and my kids don't have a chance at the American dream. So those are the two things I hear from Idahoans across the political spectrum, and that's what I'm focused on."

"I think anybody watching TV right now would say it's gas prices. Look, it's affordability. That includes housing. It includes food," Risch said. "But, gas is the thing that people are most concerned about."

With the November 3 election less than three months away, voters will make the final selection between the two frontrunners, independent Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby.

You can watch our full interviews with both frontrunners in the U.S. Senate race below.