Republicans for Open Primaries formed in 2023 to reform Idaho’s election system. It does so by eliminating closed party primary elections, allowing every voter to have a say in who gets elected to public office. All candidates for county and state offices, regardless of party affiliation, run on the same ticket in the primary election. The top four vote-getters move to the general election ticket. In that election, voters select their first choice for each office, but they may also rank the other candidates in order of preference. The candidate receiving a majority in the first vote count wins. If there is no winner, the candidate getting the fewest votes is eliminated from the running. The selections on ballots where that candidate was first choice shift upward a notch (choices 2, 3 and 4, become 1, 2 and 3) and a second count is made. If that count does not produce a winner, a third count will do it. A bonus of the system is that if your favorite does not win, your second choice might.

The Open Primaries Initiative has strong support across the political spectrum because every voter’s preference is equal in value. In a closed primary system, the voters of a majority party have much more influence than those of minority parties. Independent voters have absolutely no influence, unless they are willing to affiliate with a party they may not agree with. Many Idaho Republicans feel that their party has been taken over by extremists who do not have any use for traditional Republican values. They often are excluded from positions in the party or otherwise made to feel unwelcome. The Open Primaries Initiative is therefore appealing to them. What follows is a list of the current members of Republicans for Open Primaries. They are broadly supported by Republicans across the Gem State.

Butch Otter, former Idaho Governor and Congressman
Lori Otter, former First Lady of Idaho
Jack Riggs, former Senator and Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, Coeur d’Alene
Sandy Patano, former State Director for Senator Craig and Vice-Chair of State GOP
Chuck Coiner, former Senator from Twin Falls
Rob Williams III, Jerome attorney, recipient of Distinguished Lawyer Award
Jerry Evans, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Boise
Former Senator Denton Darrington from Declo
Gary Raney, former Ada County Sheriff
Eric Peterson, former Chairman of the Nez Perce County Republicans, Lewiston
Former Senator Laird Noh and Kathleen Noh, Twin Falls
Marge Chadderdon, former Representative from Coeur d’Alene
Chris Filios, former Kootenai County Commissioner
Lydia Justice Edwards, former Idaho State Treasurer
Former Senator Bill Ringert, Boise
Maxine Bell, former Representative and JFAC Co-Chair from Jerome
Former Senator Bert Brackett of Three Creek
Joe Stegner, former Senator from Lewiston
Billie Siddoway, former Teton County Prosecutor
George Eskridge, former Representative from Dover, current Dover Mayor
Former Representative Leon Smith and Jan Mittleider, Twin Falls
John A. “Bert” Stevenson, former Representative from Rupert
Former Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives Bruce Newcomb
Gary Suppiger, owner of Panhandle Forest Products, Cocolalla
Marv Hagedorn, former Senator and Veterans Services Administrator
Greg and Ruth Gfeller, founding members of North Idaho Republicans
Former Ada County Sheriff Vaughn Killeen
Former Representative Rich Wills, Glenns Ferry
Deborah Rose, writer and educator, Coeur d’Alene
Former Cassia County Sheriff Jay Heward
Decorated Vietnam veteran Leonard Crosby, Post Falls
Mary Crosby, founding member of North Idaho Republicans, Post Falls
Former Representative Jeff Nesset, Lewiston
Alice Hennessey, Boise businesswoman and philanthropist
Former Representative Beverly Montgomery, Meridian
Doug Gross, Caldwell potato farmer
Celia Gould, former Director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture
John Barlow, retired Hagadone Corporate Executive
Rancher Craig Spencer and lawyer Jane Spencer, Grangeville
Terry and Diane Eastman, Kootenai County restaurateurs
Dwight Baker, long-time Blackfoot lawyer, former President of Idaho State Bar
Rich Stivers, Twin Falls businessman and Vietnam veteran
Steve Taggert, Idaho Falls lawyer and writer
Thorpe Orton, former Deputy Attorney General
Michele Chadwick, former Gem County Commissioner, Emmett
Jennifer and Shawn Ellis, Chesterfield ranchers
Barbara Schriber, artist and master potter, traditional Republican, Coeur d’Alene
Jim Patrick, former Senator from Twin Falls
Luke and Deb Russell, founding members of North Idaho Republicans
Steve Shake, writer and retired Canyon County educator for 31 years
Dr. Richard E. Ferguson, DDS, Boise periodontist
Ralph Nelson, Coeur d’Alene Certified Public Accountant
Tom Torgerson, Coeur d’Alene Realtor and founder of North Idaho Republicans
Hyrum Erickson, Rexburg lawyer and Republican Precinct Committeeman
Peter Erbland, Coeur d’Alene lawyer, former Deputy Attorney General
William F. “Bud” Yost and Joan Hill Yost, longtime Nampa Republicans
Dale Storer, Idaho Falls municipal law expert
Elmer “Rick” Currie, former Kootenai County Commissioner
Jim Coleman, Coeur d’Alene Civil Engineer, past member of Idaho Transportation Bd.
Caldwell lawyer and former Senator David Kerrick
Jerry Rigby, Rexburg water lawyer
Russ McLain, long-time Republican, Coeur d’Alene
Travis and Kassidy Telford, Blackfoot
Evalyn Adams, Former Kootenai County Commissioner
Chuck Kroll, former Washington County Prosecuting Attorney
Emmett ranchers David and Kelsey Little
Lonne and Laura Jordahl, founding members of North Idaho Republicans
Jim and Camille Cox, long-time Twin Falls Republicans
Ed Morse, businessman and former Representative from Hayden
Jim Kempton, former Representative from Albion and Chair of Idaho PUC
Former Senator John Goedde from Coeur d’Alene
John Holleran, former Boise Cascade General Counsel, Boise
Michelle Lippert, Adjunct Professor at North Idaho College, Post Falls
Jared Lamson, former Mackay City Councilman
Robbi Berg, Certified Public Accountant in Hayden
Randy Budge, Pocatello water lawyer, Distinguished Lawyer Award recipient
Robert E. Farnam, Idaho Falls tax and estate attorney
Christopher Rich, former Ada County Clerk and Auditor, Boise
John Adams, Navy veteran and owner of Coeur d’Alene Tractor
Clark Kauffman, former Representative from Filer
John Young, President of Young Construction Group, Coeur d’Alene
Tod Shenton, former Clark County Commissioner
Marie Widmyer, owner of Marie’s Boutique and Marmalade, Coeur d’Alene
Steve Widmyer, former Mayor of Coeur d’Alene
Steve Roberge, former Mayor of Dalton Gardens
Lora Whalen, former Director of Panhandle Health Department
Gerald Mitchell, former Payette County Commissioner, and Darcy Mitchell
Jim Faucher, Coeur d’Alene fundraising consultant
Pierce Clegg, former Kootenai County Sheriff
Terri White Goedde, founding member of North Idaho Republicans
Cheryl Miller, long-time Ada County Republican stalwart
Hank and Betsy Martin, Coeur d’Alene Rotarians
Marc Gibbs, former Representative from Grace
Lois Johnson, founding member of North Idaho Republicans, Coeur d’Alene
Attorney Evan Robertson and Roberta Robertson, Twin Falls
Christa Hazel, former Coeur d’Alene School Board Trustee
D. Duff McKee, retired Idaho District Judge
Wayne Kidwell, former Idaho Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice
Doug Jones, former Representative from Twin Falls County
Mark Dunham, former founding trustee of College of Western Idaho
Greg Casey, former chief of staff for Congressman and Senator Larry Craig
Kathy Skippen, former Representative and County Commissioner of Gem County
Mark Snodgrass, former Representative from Meridian
Amos Rothstein, former Executive Director of the Idaho Republican Party

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