Idaho
Interested to see how much Idaho candidates have raised? Here’s how to find out. • Idaho Capital Sun
Candidates to Idaho’s Legislature have raised $6.2 million as of Sept. 23, up from what they had raised at the end of March at $3.8 million.
All of that money funding the campaigns of Idaho’s future lawmakers can be traced back through the Idaho Secretary of State’s campaign finance portal – an important tool used for transparency.
Campaign finance refers to how candidates get money for their campaigns, and how they spend it. The amount of money a candidate raises is not an indicator of whether a candidate will win the election, but it can show how widespread support is for a candidate, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane told the Sun.
“It’s important for people to know who is influencing people’s votes,” McGrane said.
In a state where agriculture and education are the priority of many candidates, transparency in campaign finance helps voters understand what interests may influence a candidate’s stance on issues such as pesticide regulations and school vouchers, for example.
Navigating campaign finance can be complex, but it is all public information – and anyone with internet access can see where the money comes from and what interests are influencing Idaho’s candidates.
Where can I see how much a candidate has raised?
Step 1: Go to VoteIdaho.gov.
VoteIdaho.gov is a state-funded website run by the Idaho Secretary of State. It is the official website for anything election-related in Idaho. It includes information about where and how to vote, past election results, data on voter turnout and demographics and campaign finance.
Step 2: Under the “Running for Office” tab at the top of the page, there is an option for “Campaign Finance Portal.” By clicking this button, the site will take you to Sunshine, Idaho’s campaign finance database.
Step 3: On the left side of the page under “Candidate Information,” type in the name of the candidate you’re interested in. Once there, click on the candidate’s name to see a detailed dashboard of information about their campaign finances. This information is regularly updated as candidates file their monthly reports.
A brief overview of campaign finance laws
Campaign spending has always played a role in elections. In 1758, George Washington won a local election after spending money on alcohol to win over voters.
Today, campaign finance laws are much stricter, and there are tools voters can use to track down how candidates raise and spend their campaign funds.
Idaho’s campaign finance laws were established through a citizen initiative in 1974, as a part of a national push for more transparency in campaign spending, McGrane said.
The push was in response to the Watergate Scandal, when in 1972 former President Richard Nixon’s re-election committee had hired burglars to wiretap phones and steal documents from the Democratic National Committee.
“It was Idaho saying, ‘We want to know who’s influencing politics,’” McGrane said. “And citizen initiatives like that were happening all around the country as there was a wave of anti-government corruption. Since then, we’ve tweaked them over time, but really with the intention that anybody who’s interested can go see who’s behind the money.”
Who has to report their campaign finances?
In response to the Watergate Scandal, Congress established the Federal Election Commission in 1974, the federal agency that enforces campaign finance laws. Individuals running for federal office, such as the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, have to file their campaign finances in this system.
Candidates running for state office in Idaho, including the judiciary and state legislators, have to report their finances to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office until they decide not to file for reelection. Candidates who choose not to run for reelection but still have campaign funds cannot keep the money for personal use. To get rid of it, former candidates can donate their funds to other candidates or give it to a nonprofit for charity, McGrane said.
Other local and county candidates are required to report their campaign finances to the Secretary of State’s office if they raise or spend $500 or more. This can include candidates for college trustee, school board, mayor, sheriff and others.
Under Idaho law, political committees – groups formed to support or oppose a candidate or cause – must also register with the Secretary of State’s Office before receiving contributions or spending money.
Sunshine: Idaho’s database for campaign finance
The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office uses a database called Sunshine, which is used to keep track of campaign finance data. It is a new system holding data from 2023 and beyond.
Sunshine makes it possible for Idahoans to see where campaign funds come from and how they are spent.
Aside from looking at how much a candidate has raised, some of the things you can discover in Sunshine include:
- How many out-of-state and in-state donors a candidate has
- Who has donated to a candidate
- The top vendors a candidate has spent their money on
- What companies have donated money to a candidate
- How much in loans a candidate has received for their campaign
- Who is funding a political committee
- How much money a political committee is giving to candidates
- How a political committee is spending on ads
While some information is easy to access, other details may require more digging. Familiarity with filtering and sorting data in spreadsheets can help.
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Idaho
Delicious New Menu Item Expected To Hit Idaho Costcos Soon
There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
Idaho
This is How to Identify an Idaho Christian Nationalist
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
Idaho
Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho
KUNA — A sister-duo is filling baskets with blankets, snacks and handwritten notes to spread some extra love to moms spending Mother’s Day in the hospital with their newborns.
The effort is led by “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” a nonprofit co-founded by sisters Tiffany and Alyssa Higbee. The organization was born from Alyssa’s own experience spending months in the NICU with her firstborn.
Alyssa’s son was initially in the NICU for about two weeks, then was put back in for about 3.5 months. During that time, several holidays passed, making it especially hard as a first-time mom.
“There was people in companies who would bring us stuff and try and cheer up your day, and it really helped, and so when my son was about 6 months old, we decided that it would be best to try and help moms in the NICU somehow,” Alyssa Higbee said.
That inspiration led the sisters to create Mother’s Day gift baskets filled with items to bring comfort and encouragement to moms facing the same journey.
WATCH: Learn more about “Helping Hands for NICU Moms”
Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho
The sisters have a 12-year age gap. Tiffany was fresh out of high school when they started the nonprofit in 2023, which meant she had more time to dedicate to the project. Alyssa noted that because of the age gap, they didn’t get to spend a lot of time together growing up, so the project has brought them closer.
“Hopefully, this can bring some hope that you can get out of it … that NICU period, that scary initial phase, it does get easier,” Alyssa Higbee said.
ALSO READ | Fragile beginnings to bright futures: NICU ‘Wall of Hope’ inspires families with stories of strength
Alyssa’s son, who was born in the NICU at St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, is now 3-years-old and healthy. Tiffany said watching her nephew go through the NICU was hard, but seeing him now — jumping, tackling her, and doing everything a little boy does — makes the work even more meaningful.
“It’s cool to see the difference because I know that some kids don’t make it to where he is when they’re in the NICU, and it’s just cool to see that he did,” Tiffany Higbee said.
This year’s baskets are packed with items donated by nearly 25 local companies — up from just 5 donors in the first year. The baskets include soaps from Wild Highland Soaps, claw clips, bibs, hair bows, chapsticks, socks, lotions, hand sanitizers, coloring books, colored pencils, snacks, minky blankets, and stuffed puppies from Scheels.
Gift cards and coupons are also included from Dutch Bros, Flying M Coffee, a pizza company, Wendy’s (free meal coupons for breakfast and lunch), Albertsons, and a $10 coupon to a baby store.
Tiffany started collecting donations for this year’s baskets as early as November of last year, spending a few hours every week for the past 6 to 8 months to prepare — reaching out to companies, picking up donations, and organizing everything.
The assembly process includes last-minute tasks like ironing vinyl onto bags, opening boxes, and putting together gift card envelopes before the full baskets are assembled and delivered.
“We start putting the bags together, making sure we have everything in there, and then we deliver them on Mother’s Day,” Alyssa Higbee said.
The baskets are delivered before noon on Mother’s Day to avoid missing moms who may be discharged after doctors do their rounds. Currently, the organization delivers to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in downtown Boise.
Tiffany said delivering the baskets is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.
“I love seeing the moms sometimes we get to watch them come out with their baskets, and they’ll be going through it, and they look really excited and happy,” Tiffany Higbee said.
“Seeing how happy they are or knowing how I cheered them up a little bit for their Mother’s Day because it’s a big holiday, it’s their first with that baby at least,” Tiffany Higbee said.
The first year, the project was funded mostly out of their own pockets. Three years later, as an official nonprofit, they said they no longer have to rely heavily on their own funds thanks to their new partnerships.
The organization accepts both monetary donations via Venmo and their website, as well as in-kind donations of physical items like soaps, claw clips, and other basket items — year-round.
The organization’s future goal is to expand to all the different NICUs in the area, and potentially the PICUs (Pediatric Intensive Care Units) as well, since that was also part of Alyssa’s experience.
To learn how you can donate or get involved with “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” you can visit their website by clicking here.
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