Idaho, State House, District 15A

Idaho House of Representatives District 15
Current incumbents	Steve Berch
	Jake Ellis
Population	40,177
Ethnicity	1.1% Black, 7.2% Hispanic
Voting age	75.4% age 18 and over

Idaho's fifteenth state house district is represented by Democratic Representatives Steve Berch and Jake Ellis.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 40,177 civilians reside within Idaho's fifteenth state house district. Idaho state representatives represent an average of 22,394 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 18,485 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Idaho House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Idaho legislators assume office after the first day of December following the general election.

Qualifications

Article III, Section 6 of the Idaho Constitution states: "No person shall be a senator or representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, and an elector of this state, nor anyone who has not been for one year next preceding his election an elector of the county or district whence he may be chosen."

Salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$17,879/year	$139/day for members living outside of Boise. Set by the compensation commission.

Vacancies

The Governor is responsible for filling all vacancies in the house.

The political party committee that last held the vacant seat has 15 days after the vacancy to submit a list of three recommended candidates to the Governor. The Governor makes the selection based on the recommendations.

If any party committee fails to submit a list of recommended candidates after the 15 day deadline, the Governor has 5 days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat. The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Idaho House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for May 19, 2020. The filing deadline is March 13, 2020.

2018

District 15A

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A

Steve Berch (D) defeated incumbent Lynn Luker (R) in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Steve Berch (D)	54.5	9,845
	Lynn Luker (R)	45.5	8,225

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 18,070

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A

Steve Berch advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Berch (D)	100	2,245

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 2,245

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A

Incumbent Lynn Luker advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lynn Luker (R)	100	3,619

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 3,619

District 15B

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B

Jake Ellis (D) defeated incumbent Patrick McDonald (R) in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jake Ellis (D)	50.9	9,089
	Patrick McDonald (R)	49.1	8,769

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 17,858

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B

Jake Ellis advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jake Ellis (D)	100	2,084

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 2,084

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B

Incumbent Patrick McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B on May 15, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patrick McDonald (R)	100	3,630

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 3,630

2016

District 15A

Elections for the Idaho House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent Lynn Luker defeated Steve Berch in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15A general election.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15A General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lynn Luker Incumbent	50.77%	9,663
	Democratic	Steve Berch	49.23%	9,370
Total Votes			19,033
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

Steve Berch ran unopposed in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15A Democratic primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 15A, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Steve Berch (unopposed)

Incumbent Lynn Luker ran unopposed in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15A Republican primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 15A, Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Lynn Luker Incumbent (unopposed)

District 15B

Incumbent Patrick McDonald defeated Jake Ellis in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15B general election.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15B General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Patrick McDonald Incumbent	56.18%	10,506
	Democratic	Jake Ellis	43.82%	8,194
Total Votes			18,700
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

Jake Ellis ran unopposed in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15B Democratic primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 15B, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Jake Ellis (unopposed)

Incumbent Patrick McDonald defeated Rod W. Beck in the Idaho House of Representatives District 15B Republican primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 15B, Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Patrick McDonald Incumbent	57.95%	1,418
	Republican	Rod W. Beck	42.05%	1,029
Total Votes			2,447
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

2014

15A

Elections for the Idaho House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Steve Berch was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Lynn M. Luker was unopposed in the Republican primary. Berch was defeated by Luker in the general election.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15A, General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lynn M. Luker Incumbent	51.6%	6,615
	Democratic	Steve Berch	48.4%	6,199
Total Votes			12,814

15B

Elections for the Idaho House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. John Hart was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Patrick McDonald defeated Jason Joel Robinson in the Republican primary. Hart was defeated by McDonald in the general election.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15B, General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Patrick McDonald Incumbent	56.8%	7,045
	Democratic	John Hart	43.2%	5,358
Total Votes			12,403

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15B Republican Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Patrick Incumbent	65.2%	1,978
Jason Joel Robinson	34.8%	1,058
Total Votes		3,036

2012

Elections for the office of Idaho House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 15, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2012.

Incumbent Lynn Luker (R) defeated Richard Keller (D) in the general election. Keller defeated John Hart in the Democratic primary, while Luker was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Mark Patterson (R) defeated Steve Berch (D) in the general election and defeated Curtis Ellis in the Republican primary. Berch was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15A, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lynn M. Luker Incumbent	59%	10,602
	Democratic	Richard Keller	41%	7,379
Total Votes			17,981

Idaho House of Representatives District 15A Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Richard Keller	58%	408
John Hart	42%	295
Total Votes		703

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15B, General Election, 2012

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mark Patterson	53.1%	9,618
	Democratic	Steve Berch	46.9%	8,481
Total Votes			18,099

Idaho House of Representatives District 15B Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mark Patterson	60.1%	1,517
Curtis Ellis	39.9%	1,009
Total Votes		2,526

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Idaho House of Representatives District 15A raised a total of $371,019. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $12,794 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Idaho House of Representatives District 15A

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$98,879	2	$49,440
2014	$62,549	2	$31,275
2012	$26,169	3	$8,723
2010	$67,589	5	$13,518
2008	$5,361	1	$5,361
2006	$37,118	4	$9,280
2004	$20,778	3	$6,926
2002	$19,329	4	$4,832
2000	$33,247	5	$6,649
Total	$371,019	29	$12,794

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Idaho House of Representatives District 15B raised a total of $468,642. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $16,737 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Idaho House of Representatives District 15B

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$116,272	3	$38,757
2014	$41,441	3	$13,814
2012	$84,745	3	$28,248
2010	$41,942	3	$13,981
2008	$47,068	3	$15,689
2006	$27,054	2	$13,527
2004	$47,634	3	$15,878
2002	$39,960	5	$7,992
2000	$22,526	3	$7,509
Total	$468,642	28	$16,737