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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Republicans aren't at risk of losing their supermajority control after Tuesday's general election, but a handful of Democratic challengers have ponied up big money and released critical campaign ads in hopes of defeating their GOP opponents.
At stake: superintendent of public instruction, control of the Idaho Land Board and the loss of key GOP allies if Democrats win vulnerable seats in both legislative and statewide races.
Highlights in Nov. 4 election:
WILL OTTER WIN A THIRD TERM?
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is seeking a feat that few Idaho governors have achieved: a third term. He's running against Democratic challenger and Boise businessman A.J. Balukoff. While Otter comes with name recognition — he's been an Idaho politician for nearly 30 years — Balukoff has spent almost $3.2 million of his own money aggressively campaigning against the incumbent.
Balukoff has blamed Otter for Idaho's poor public school funding and low income wages. He's also launched a television advertisement in the last leg of the election criticizing Otter's handling of a private-prison scandal.
Meanwhile, Otter has maintained that he successfully led Idaho out of the Great Recession and has a plan to improve Idaho's public schools that will improve funding and retain teachers.
THE RACE FOR IDAHO'S SCHOOLS CHIEF COULD BE CLOSE
Political newcomer Sherri Ybarra comes with an "R'' by her name, but multiple gaffes have Democrats thinking that candidate Jana Jones might be able to pull off an upset, becoming Idaho's next superintendent of public instruction.
Ybarra's campaign has been plagued with criticisms that she misled the public on her voting record, education resume, marital history, endorsements and that she plagiarized a portion of her website.
Jones has avoided public mistakes along the campaign trail, but as a Democrat, she will face an uphill battle winning enough votes from Idaho's conservative voters.
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE FAVORED TO REMAIN THE SAME
Coming with the incumbent advantage and more campaign funds, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch along with U.S. House Reps. Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson are all favored to win another term against their Democratic challengers.
Labrador is running against former Democratic state Rep. Shirley Ringo. While Ringo consistently won in her legislative district, her congressional district contains some of Idaho's most conservative regions.
Meanwhile, Risch and Simpson are running against opponents who have struggled to raise enough money to compete with their opponents.
However, Simpson's race is unique because he is running against former U.S. Rep. Richard Stallings, a Democrat who held the seat from 1985 to 1993.
DEMS COULD PULL SURPRISE VICTORIES IN OTHER STATEWIDE RACES
In a rare move for a secretary of state candidate, Democrat Holli Woodings released a television advertisement little more than a week before the election in a last-minute effort to help raise her name recognition and reinforce her pledge to remain nonpartisan if elected.
However, she's a House freshman running against Idaho political veteran Lawerence Denney. Denney has served nine terms in the Idaho Legislature.
Idaho Treasurer Ron Crane, who is seeking a fifth term, faces competition from Democratic candidate Deborah Silver.
Silver has campaigned on Crane's poor audit history over the past few years, while Crane has disputed the reports' claims and maintains he has protected Idaho's credit rating.
Other statewide races such as attorney general and controller do not have active Democratic candidates.
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