Ugh! Let’s face it, conservative candidates lost big time in May. Here’s How.
Though Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon declared that MAGA won in the May election, Magic Valley’s conservative candidates were all but wiped out. Either Moon wasn’t paying attention, or deep pocket establishment-Republicans counted MAGA worthy.
Despite Magic Valley’s conservative incumbents’, A+ voting records of Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (Dist 24), Sen. Josh Kohl (Dist 25) and Rep. David Leavitt (Dist 25) in the 2026 legislative session. Only Rep. Clint Hostetler (Dist 24) and candidate Lyle Johnstone (Dist 26) won in May.
And it was a wipe out for other candidates, like Leslie Wolff (for TF Co. assessor), Jose Sanchez (for TF Co. clerk) and Jerry Holton (for Jerome Co.).
Some of you may be still scratching your heads as to why super-conservative candidates in some of the most ‘conservative’ districts in Idaho lost to establishment Republicans.
Heist tactics
Thousands upon thousands of out-of-state dollars were poured into the Magic Valley from big ag and big dairy political action committees and corporations targeting conservative candidates.
Brent Reinke defeated Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (Dist 24) Alexandra Caval challenged but lost to Rep. Clint Hostetler (Dist 24) Casey Sewensen defeated Sen. Josh Kohl (Dist 25), and Cherie Vollmer defeted Rep. David Leavitt (Dist 25).
Here are just one sampling of the out-of-state contributions that helped establishment-Republicans regain control of the Magic Valley.
Idaho Sunshine Report of campaign contributions
Corporate/PAC Contributions – $1000
- Idaho Land Fund – Vollmer
- Idaho Wheat and Barley PAC – Vollmer, Reinke
- PAC for Public Lands – Vollmer, Caval
- Idaho Potato Industry PAC, Inc. – Vollmer, Caval, Reinke
- Idaho State AFL-CIO State PAC – Vollmer, Reinke
- Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Political Action Committee – Vollmer, Caval, Reinke
- Healthcare Business Ventures Inc – Caval
- Idaho Hospital Association PAC – Caval, Reinke
- Healthcare Matters PAC – Caval, Reinke
- Idaho Dairy Industry PAC INC – Swensen
- SRSGA INC – Swensen
- Idaho Prosperity Fund – Swensen
- Valley Food Service, Inc – Swensen, Caval
- Title Fact – Swensen
- Leading Idaho PAC – Caval, Reinke
- Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association PAC – Reinke
- Idahos Future PAC – Reinke
- Professional Firefighters of Idaho Political Action Committee – Reinke
- Healthcare Business Ventures Inc – Reinke
TOTAL: $19,000. And that’s just counting the $1000 donations.
Their deep pockets inundated voters with direct-mail disinformation aimed at conservative candidates during the last two weeks leading up to election day. Too many low-information voters didn’t bother to fact-check their lies. Here are but three examples.
Liberal groups, like the Idaho Teachers Association and Idaho Surface Water Coalition urged voters to oppose conservative Magic Valley candidates.
Magic Valley Voter Services published their version of a Magic Valley voter guide to counter the MVLA PAC Voter Guide.
Indivisible of Twin Falls County became a far-left base of operations in spreading disinformation, and we suspect they encouraged their base to register as Republicans in time to vote for establishment candidates.
Worst of all, we saw low voter turn-out among way too many conservatives who chose to stay home. Shame. Shame.
The November Election: The Next Wave
Corporate-sponsored Magic Valley candidates
Given the losses by true conservatives in the May Primary, and the war chests of outside corporate donors, voters are now stuck with corporate-owned and operated candidates that answer to their big-buck donors. Not voters.
This means voters can no longer take for granted that Republicans in the Magic Valley are assured victories in November.
Running against Rep. Hostetler is Kevin Moxley. Though running as an Independent, Moxley is a former organizer of the far-left group Indivisible of Twin Falls County. Indivisible was the organization behind the No Kings rallies in Twin Falls. Running against Johnstone is Democrat Kevin Marsh.
Prop 1: Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative
Otherwise known as Prop 1, it seeks to reverse Idaho’s abortion ban and establish a ‘right to reproductive freedom and privacy for all Idaho residents.’
Sounds reasonable, right? Do not be deceived.
VISIT OUR STOP PROP 1 RESOURCE PAGE: What Prop 1 Does and how to defeat it.
