Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane appeared on Newstalk 107.9 to discuss the upcoming May 19 primary election, addressing concerns regarding his recent endorsements of incumbent candidates. In a conversation with hosts Neal Larson and Julie Mason, McGrane defended his decision to weigh in on specific races despite his role as the state’s chief elections officer.
During the interview, Larson questioned the “optics” of the Secretary of State endorsing candidates, suggesting it was similar to a sports referee attending a team rally before a game. McGrane acknowledged the concern but emphasized that his position is an elected, partisan office. He stated that he maintains “radical transparency” about his political views while ensuring the technical process of the election remains impartial. McGrane noted that the Idaho Constitution requires him to balance his role as an elected Republican with his duties as a neutral administrator.
The discussion also touched on the rising costs of legislative races in Idaho. McGrane observed that while some statewide seats are uncontested, money is becoming heavily concentrated in specific, high-intensity districts. He noted that several legislative races have reached six-figure spending levels, driven by national PACs and Idaho’s population growth. “Idaho is a cheap date compared to a number of other states,” McGrane said, explaining why outside money is increasingly flowing into local contests. He called for updates to Idaho’s campaign finance laws, which have not seen a major overhaul since 1974.
Addressing the issue of “crossover voting,” where voters switch party affiliation to influence a primary, McGrane suggested the actual impact might be less than public perception suggests. He pointed out that the mid-March deadline for changing party affiliation prevents last-minute shifts based on the final candidate field. According to McGrane, data tracked by his office shows that Republican registration remains consistent with the state’s voting patterns in general elections.
McGrane concluded the interview by confirming that election preparations are on track across Idaho’s 44 counties. He encouraged citizens to visit the state’s official voting website to verify their information before heading to the polls.
