It has been over two decades—almost three—since the Lincoln Day Dinner has been held in Oneida County.  The dinner serves as a chance for those running in Republican primaries during the election season to meet with their constituents and reaffirm their support for the party platform.  This year’s revival of the tradition brought in those running for local offices, including those running for County Commission seats and the busy District 27 seats, as well as a number of high-profile statewide and national seats.  The dinner was very well-attended, and demonstrated the robust interest in Republican party politics across the valley.

Local candidates/races

The most prominent local races for the primary involve the two County Commission positions that are up this year.  Currently, Ken Eliason in District 2 and Bob Christophersen in District 3 are up for re-election.  Andee Parry has announced her candidacy for the D2 spot, and Brian Jeppsen has announced his candidacy for the D3 position. 

Larry Oja opened the meeting by explaining that he saw the contests as “different people running for the position, not necessarily against each other,” and the local candidates held to that mantra, even if some of the candidates for state and national office didn’t.  All of the commissioner candidates stressed their connection to Malad, and their love of the people and community they hope to serve next year.  Each emphasized their unique experience with the community, and what they thought they might bring to the table as representatives of Oneida County residents.  

Oneida County Treasurer Leigh Love and State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth spoke to the crowd about the state’s formation of a coalition of states who have banded together to combat restrictions on oil and gas companies under new federal regulations.  

District 27

District 27 now represents Oneida county after the recent realignment of districts across the state.  The former District 27 included the area to the west of Oneida county, while the redrawn boundaries move Malad and most of Oneida county into its borders.  As a result, it is a highly competitive race, with a number of candidates in both the Senate and two House races.  

In attendance were Kelly Anthon, who recently visited Malad, and Jeanie Hakes, who are running for the state Senator positions.  Anthon, who lives in Declo, is currently serving as the Majority Leader of the Idaho State Senate.  He explained that his primary aim was to increase the agricultural voice in state politics.  Jeanie Hakes stressed that her concern was in reducing spending at the state level.

In District 27A, Doug Pickett, who is running against Carl Voigt, was in attendance.

The District 27B seat, which is one of the most heavily contested, was represented by Pat Field, John Stokes, Clay Handy, and Kevin Williams.  Ryan Cook is also running for the seat.  As a result of the now expanded area included in District 27, the candidates clarified that they had experience working with and in the ag communities that now fall under the district's purview.  

Statewide offices

Governor Brad Little and his most well-known competitor, current Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin, were not in attendance, as they were attending similar events in other parts of the state.  Governor Little’s spokesperson thanked and praised the event organizers and encouraged the crowd to support their local candidates and the Republican party itself.  McGeachin, who visited Malad last fall after announcing her campaign, sent a representative who had much more combative words for the current governor.  As has been made clear through McGeachin’s public statements, her primary campaign issue with Governor Little is the implementation of COVID lockdown protocols over the last two years.  Ammon Bundy, who also recently visited Malad, is no longer running as a Republican but rather as an Independent.   

The Lieutenant Governor’s race, mirroring the gubernatorial race, has focused on growth and the extent of the governor’s authority.  Scott Bedke, who is currently serving as the Speaker of the House for his fifth term, stated that “in my time we’ve created the best state in the union to live in—the problem is that other people have discovered that.”  He committed to managing growth.  Priscilla Giddings, a combat pilot, has a platform that is reflective of that of current Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin, with a strong opposition to recent COVID policy, as well as spending.  

Raul Labrador, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus (which was formed during the emergence of the Tea Party), was present in support of his run for Idaho Attorney General.  He has been a vocal critic of the current state administration.

Debbie Critchfield was present to discuss her run for State Superintendent of Instruction.  She promoted her platform of “skills development for work readiness.”  She emphasized the uniqueness of rural skills within the larger state system, and promoted the idea of requiring financial literacy classes for high school students.

Dorothy Moon is running for Secretary of State.  The Secretary of State is the principle election official in Idaho, and also serves on the Land Board.  County Clerk Lon Colton spoke on behalf of Phil McGrane, who is running for the same position.  

National candidates 

At the national level, the Dinner was visited by two candidates running against Mike Simpson for the District 2 Representative position, as well as a colorful candidate for U.S. Senate.  Flint Christiansen and Bryan Smith both described Mike Simpson as “not up to the job” and suggested that he was not representing the interests of many rural Idahoans.  

Smith specifically referred to him as a RINO, which was met with cheers from some of those gathered.  Bryan Smith, an attorney from Idaho Falls, has been a particularly vocal critic of the veteran Representative.  Just this week, Simpson declined to join Smith for a televised debate as part of Idaho PBS’ debate series.  The Simpson campaign stated that “voters don’t need to see more of Smith” to make their decision for the primary.  A member of the very conservative Idaho Freedom Foundation, Smith has been especially critical of Simpson’s proposal to breach several north Idaho dams in order to preserve salmon runs.  “I may be a lawyer,” he said at the Lincoln day event, “but at least I’m not a dam breacher.”

Scott Trotter began his two minutes of time with a song, and continued with the same energy.  Trotter is a “worship pastor” from Lewiston, who is running on a specific platform of bringing “love and Christian awareness” to Washington, D.C. 

The event was put on by the Oneida County Central Republican Committee, chaired by Larry Oja.  It was organized by local volunteer Cody Brower and catered by the Iron Door Smokehouse.  Volunteers from a number of organizations including the Northwest Liberty Academy, Lydia and Madelyn Gonzales, and others, including the Boy Scout Troop 1776, who conducted the flag ceremony and helped serve guests.