Idaho: West Bonner School Board Members ousted

West Bonner School Board Chair Keith Rutledge and Trustee Susan Brown were both ousted in the August 29 recall election, with Rutledge losing 762-454 (63-37%) and Brown losing 624-322 (66-34%). Turnout greatly exceeded the results from their original election in 2021.

Idaho has a "Queen of the Hill" provision, which would required a recall to not only win the vote, but top the total number of votes in favor of the candidate in the last election. In that race, Rutledge and Brown received 485 and 359 votes.

The recall is over a 3-2 vote to approve the appointment of former State Senator Branden Durst as the new school superintendent, despite him not having the qualifications to serve (he needs to have worked in a school for four years -- the board declared an emergency to allow it). Durst, a former Democrat who switched parties and ran for the Republican nomination for State Superintendent (he lost). Durst is seen as part of a "far-right takeover" of the schools.