2020 United States Senate election in Idaho
← 2014 November 3, 2020 2026 →
 
Nominee Jim Risch Paulette Jordan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 538,446 285,864
Percentage 62.62% 33.25%
Risch:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Jordan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%
     No data
U.S. senator before election

Jim Risch
Republican

Elected U.S. senator

Jim Risch
Republican

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The 2020 United States Senate election in Idaho was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Idaho, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Republican senator Jim Risch won reelection to a third term in office, defeating Democratic nominee Paulette Jordan, who, percentage wise, had the worst performance of a Democratic senatorial candidate for this seat since 2002. However, Risch also performed nearly three points worse than he did when he was reelected in 2014, and additionally, he slightly underperformed incumbent president Donald Trump's performance in the concurrent presidential election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Results

Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Risch (incumbent) 200,184 100.00%
Total votes 200,184 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Paulette Jordan
Individuals
Publications
James Vandermaas
Individuals

Results

County results:
  Jordan
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paulette Jordan 72,778 85.70%
Democratic James Vandermaas 12,145 14.30%
Total votes 84,923 100.00%

Other candidates

Constitution Party

Nominee

Independents

Declared

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[14] Safe R October 29, 2020
Inside Elections[15] Safe R October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[16] Safe R November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[17] Safe R October 30, 2020
Politico[18] Safe R November 2, 2020
RCP[19] Safe R October 23, 2020
DDHQ[20] Safe R November 3, 2020
538[21] Safe R November 2, 2020
Economist[22] Safe R November 2, 2020

Endorsements

Paulette Jordan (D)
U.S vice presidents
Individuals
Organizations
Publications

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Jim
Risch (R) 		Paulette
Jordan (D) 		Other Undecided
[A][B] August 29 – September 1, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 53% 28% 8%[b] 11%

Results

United States Senate election in Idaho, 2020[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Risch (incumbent) 538,446 62.62% -2.71%
Democratic Paulette Jordan 285,864 33.25% -1.42%
Independent Natalie Fleming 25,329 2.95% N/A
Constitution Ray Writz 10,188 1.18% N/A
Total votes 859,827 100.0%
Republican hold
By county
County[31] Jim Risch
Republican 		Paulette Jordan
Democratic 		Natalie Fleming
Independent 		Ray Writz
Constitution 		Margin Total
votes
# % # % # % # % # %
Ada 130,446 50.56 118,718 46.01 6,940 2.69 1,910 0.74 11,728 4.55 258,014
Adams 1,828 71.38 625 24.40 62 2.42 46 1.80 1,203 46.97 2,561
Bannock 22,048 55.94 15,472 39.26 1,433 3.64 460 1.17 6,576 16.68 39,413
Bear Lake 2,791 84.55 355 10.75 91 2.76 64 1.94 2,436 73.80 3,301
Benewah 3,584 73.55 1,081 22.18 103 2.11 105 2.15 2,503 51.36 4,873
Bingham 14,644 73.83 4,313 21.74 625 3.15 253 1.27 10,331 52.08 19,835
Blaine 4,226 31.76 8,739 65.67 288 2.16 54 0.41 -4,513 -33.91 13,307
Boise 3,323 69.36 1,247 26.03 128 2.67 93 1.94 2,076 43.33 4,791
Bonner 17,964 66.48 8,079 29.90 601 2.22 377 1.39 9,885 36.58 27,021
Bonneville 36,490 68.81 13,913 26.24 1,972 3.72 653 1.23 22,577 42.58 53,028
Boundary 4,800 76.70 1,212 19.37 131 2.09 115 1.84 3,588 57.33 6,258
Butte 1,120 79.43 222 15.74 39 2.77 29 2.06 898 63.69 1,410
Camas 488 72.30 156 23.11 17 2.52 14 2.07 332 49.19 675
Canyon 59,060 65.92 26,603 26.69 2,550 2.85 1,384 1.54 32,457 36.23 89,597
Caribou 2,603 81.45 442 13.83 97 3.03 54 1.69 2,161 67.62 3,196
Cassia 7,564 78.91 1,508 15.73 322 3.36 192 2.00 6,056 63.18 9,586
Clark 254 81.67 42 13.50 12 3.86 3 0.96 212 68.17 311
Clearwater 3,357 76.66 883 20.16 104 2.38 35 0.80 2,474 56.50 4,379
Custer 1,978 73.04 603 22.27 74 2.73 53 1.96 1,375 50.77 2,708
Elmore 6,797 67.17 2,814 27.81 317 3.13 191 1.89 3,983 39.36 10,119
Franklin 5,678 85.85 585 8.84 217 3.28 134 2.03 5,093 77.00 6,614
Fremont 5,391 80.39 1,001 14.93 205 3.06 109 1.62 4,390 65.46 6,706
Gem 7,546 76.13 1,957 19.74 268 2.70 141 1.42 5,589 56.39 9,912
Gooding 4,442 73.56 1,335 22.11 186 3.08 76 1.26 3,107 51.45 6,039
Idaho 7,629 80.47 1,532 16.16 214 2.26 106 1.12 6,097 64.31 9,481
Jefferson 11,702 83.19 1,647 11.71 481 3.42 236 1.68 10,055 71.48 14,066
Jerome 5,450 69.98 1,978 25.40 249 3.20 111 1.42 3,472 44.58 7,788
Kootenai 61,289 69.68 22,945 26.09 2,538 2.89 1,183 1.34 38,344 43.59 87,955
Latah 9,501 46.14 10,373 50.37 532 2.58 187 0.91 -872 -4.23 20,593
Lemhi 3,497 74.37 1,020 21.69 141 3.00 44 0.94 2,477 52.68 4,702
Lewis 1,420 76.84 357 19.32 38 2.06 33 1.79 1,063 57.52 1,848
Lincoln 1,371 71.00 470 24.34 71 3.68 19 0.98 901 46.66 1,931
Madison 13,517 79.79 2,288 13.51 783 4.62 353 2.08 11,229 66.28 16,941
Minidoka 5,930 74.84 1,587 20.03 307 3.88 99 1.25 4,343 54.81 7,923
Nez Perce 13,487 64.73 6,510 31.24 684 3.28 155 0.74 6,977 33.49 20,836
Oneida 2,039 84.47 253 10.48 68 2.82 54 2.24 1,786 73.99 2,414
Owyhee 3,643 76.84 910 19.19 106 2.24 82 1.73 2,733 57.65 4,741
Payette 8,488 75.56 2,308 20.55 306 2.72 131 1.17 6,180 55.02 11,233
Power 2,053 67.20 876 28.67 91 2.98 35 1.15 1,177 38.53 3,055
Shoshone 3,904 65.85 1,747 29.46 181 3.05 97 1.64 2,157 36.38 5,929
Teton 2,837 44.96 3,251 51.52 180 2.85 42 0.67 -414 -6.56 6,310
Twin Falls 24,355 67.58 9,776 27.12 1,318 3.66 591 1.64 14,579 40.45 36,040
Valley 3,862 54.89 2,984 42.41 155 2.20 35 0.50 878 12.48 7,036
Washington 4,050 75.69 1,147 21.43 104 1.94 50 0.93 2,903 54.25 5,351
Totals 538,446 62.62 285,864 33.25 25,329 2.95 10,188 1.18 252,582 29.38 859,827
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic[32]

See also

Notes

Partisan clients
  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Poll conducted for the Women's Liberation Front.
  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Another candidate" with 8%

References

  1. ^ Russell, Betsy (August 12, 2019). "Risch announces re-election bid for 3rd Senate term in 2020". Idaho Press. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS". State of Idaho - Elections Department. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Jennifer Bendery. "Idaho Democrat Paulette Jordan Is Running For Senate", HuffPost, February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Third Dem announces bid for Risch's Senate seat in 2020". Idaho Press. October 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "Harris withdraws from Idaho Senate race". Kootenai Valley Times. February 13, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Travis Oler Discontinues US Senate Campaign and Runs for Idaho State Legislature". Travis Oler for Idaho. Retrieved March 14, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ a b c Singiser, Steve. "Here's our ultimate Democratic wishlist for Senate in 2020. Who's on yours?". Daily Kos. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Paulette Jordan on Instagram: "Nancy Harris has a strong voice and the best of intentions for Idaho. I'm very grateful for her support. Thank you, @nancyharrisforsenate…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Miller, Kevin (February 14, 2020). "Aaron Paul endorses Jordan Paulette". Kido Talk Radio. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "Statesman endorses Democrat primary candidate for U.S. Senate". Idaho Statesman. May 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Log In or Sign Up to View". www.facebook.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "WRITZ, RAY - Candidate overview". FEC.gov.
  13. ^ "Natalie M Fleming for United States Senate – Partisan Free Independent Candidate for United States Congress for Idaho".
  14. ^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings for October 29, 2020". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "2020 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "2020 Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "2020 Senate Race Ratings". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019.
  19. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2020". RCP. October 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "2020 Senate Elections Model". Decision Desk HQ. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  21. ^ Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "Forecasting the US elections". The Economist. November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Biden endorses Idaho's Paulette Jordan for U.S. Senate". KHQ.
  24. ^ "2020 Endorsements". Center Action Fund.
  25. ^ "DSCC Endorses Paulette Jordan in Idaho Senate Race". DSCC. July 23, 2020.
  26. ^ "Paulette Jordan for U.S. Senate, Idaho | EMILY's List". Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  27. ^ "U.S. Senate - Education Votes". educationvotes.nea.org.
  28. ^ "Endorsed candidates". NWPC. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  29. ^ @electpaulette (October 4, 2020). "I am proud to receive this historic endorsement from Idaho's biggest newspaper! They write that Senator Risch has been disappointing and that it's time for new leadership. I couldn't agree more. Let's win this and make Idaho proud. Link in my bio! #Paulette2020 #idpol" – via Instagram.
  30. ^ "2020 General Election Results – Statewide". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  31. ^ "Idaho Senate Election Results 2020". National Election Pool. NBC News. March 7, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  32. ^ "Idaho U.S. Senate Election Results". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

External links

Official campaign websites
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