Minnick defeats Sali in 1st Congressional District (Idaho)

[brooklynite]

Source: Idaho Statesman

BOISE, Idaho — Democrat Walt Minnick ousted Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali in the 1st Congressional District, scoring Idaho’s biggest political upset in more than a decade and adding an unexpected member to the House Democratic majority.

Minnick won with just more than 50 percent, or about 3,700 votes, becoming the first Democrat from Idaho to capture a congressional seat since Larry LaRocco in 1992. With Minnick, Democrats in the U.S. House added at least 18 seats; going into Tuesday’s election, the party controlled the House 235-199 with one vacancy.

At 10:32 a.m. Wednesday, with 954 of 956 precincts reporting, Minnick had 174,341 votes (51 percent) and Sali had 170,534 votes (49 percent).

...snip...

Aides for Minnick and Sali didn’t immediately comment Wednesday, but said the candidates would speak at events later in the day.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/560094.html

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There seem to be a lot of races that finished closer than expected and will take awhile to sort out.

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Fuckin' A !!!! Another wingnut bites the dust!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Bleacher Creature]

2. This is Cheney's old seat, right?

[DinahMoeHum]

3. No, this is Idaho, not Wyoming.

n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. No, Cheney was from Wyoming

[astroBspacedog]

5. YES ----I'm in Idaho-

And it feels great to get rid of that diabolical, insensitive pig. It's also good to see Minnick get in there, -- especially after losing his attempt for the Senate 12 years ago, --------- against Larry Craig !!!!!

[mikeymeitbual]

6. Worst. Politician. Ever.

I can't believe that Sali was given the esteemed title of Representative, seeing as how he only represented the minority of wingnuts in our state. Thank meaty pasta preparations for his defeat.

[idahoblue]

7. hope

A glimmer for Idaho politics.

:dem: :patriot:

[Q3JR4]

8. Bill Sali is a jackass.

I wouldn't say that Idahoans voted for Walt Minnick so much as against Bill Sali.

Q3JR4.

[bluesmail]

9. Going in the right direction. Good.

[libodem]

10. Best news ever

Sali is a male Sarah Palin, except he's not too good looking. Dumb as a bag of hammers.

[Omnibus]

11. This is very encouraging.

More Mountain Democrats, please.

Let the Repugs isolate themselves into a small band of intolerance across half the southeastern US; the rest of us will be sane.