Idaho House Speaker Bedke defeats Giddings in GOP lieutenant governor primary

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Powerful House Speaker Scott Bedke has won the GOP primary for lieutenant governor.

The fourth-generation rancher who is generally considered an expert on the state’s water issues defeated state Rep. Priscilla Giddings in a race called Wednesday following voting in Tuesday’s primary.

The race was another battle between an establishment Republican in Bedke against a far-right candidate in Giddings. Bedke got about 52% of the vote and Giddings 43%, while Daniel Gasiorowski received the remainder.

Giddings was censured by her House colleagues late last year after publicizing the name of a 19-year-old intern who reported she was raped by another House lawmaker.

Bedke was appointed to a House seat representing south-central Idaho in 2001 by Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. Following redistricting, he won the Republican primary and general election. He ran mostly unopposed ever since.

He became speaker in 2012 by defeating then-Speaker Lawerence Denney, now Idaho’s secretary of state.

“Idahoans want consistent, pragmatic, and conservative results to come from the Lieutenant Governor’s office. As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will never embarrass Idaho. Instead, I will continue fighting to protect our shared conservative values and serve as an ambassador for our great state,” Bedke said. “But tonight’s victory is just the first step. Joe Biden and the D.C. Democrats have their sights on Idaho. No matter who you voted for in this race, Idaho conservatives must join together to ensure Idaho remains the best place to live, to work, and to raise a family. I look forward to earning your vote and support in the General Election.”

You can view full election results HERE.