2024 Election results Caribou County
Across the country, the 2024 election played out within the margin of error pollsters had been predicting. What was always seen as a close race lived up to that billing, as Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential race by capturing the “blue wall states” Harris would have needed in order to secure the win. Predictions for the outcome changed several times in the run-up to the election, with then-nominee Joe Biden trailing Trump throughout most of the campaign season, and Harris briefly outpolling Trump in the immediate aftermath of Biden’s withdrawal. Otherwise, the close race that ended up occurring matched the pre-voting prognostications that largely called it a tossup.
The Senate will return to Republican control after several seats were flipped by the GOP, and some House races have still not officially been called.
In Caribou County, Donald Trump received 2,906 votes (83.41% of the total cast), to Kamala Harris’s 445 (12.77%). Robert F Kennedy, Jr. (IND) earned 62 votes (1.78%); Chase Oliver earned 15 votes (Libertarian). Joel Skousen (Constitution party) earned 11 votes in the county. Independents Jill Stein (7), Randall Terry (4), Shiva Ayyadurai (4), and Claudia De la Cruz (2) also earned votes. There were 28 rejected write-ins as well.
In the U.S. Senate race, Mike Simpson earned 2,758 votes in his successful contest against Democrat David Roth’s 338, Todd Corsetti’s 202, and Idaho Law (Carta Sierra)’s 84.
In conjunction with parts of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bonneville, and Teton counties, State Senate district 35 was won by Republican Mark Harris with 3,052 to Democrat Chris Riley’s 348.
State Representative for District 35 Seat A remains Republican Kevin Andrus, who received 2,869 votes in Caribou County to Democrat Joseph Messerly’s 513.
State Representative for District 35 Seat B was held by Josh Wheeler, with 2,900 votes in the county to Democratic challenger Maggie Shaw’s 435.
County Commissioners Marty McCullough (3,093) and Mark Mathews (3,057) were elected after unopposed elections, as was County Sheriff Adam Mabey (3,050). Also unopposed were County Coroner Casey Batterton (3,131), and County Attorney Doug Wood (3,079).
Magistrate Judge David W. Cousin was retained with 92.17% of the vote (2,909).
The statewide constitutional Amendment to add language regarding elections and citizenship earned 67.28% of the county vote (2,274) to 32.72% (1,106).
Proposition 1, to create a ranked choice voting system and an open primary lost 2,753 against to 653 in favor.
The only local ballot issue that was in doubt was the Bond issue for the Soda Springs school district. The bond, for $55,165,000 would go toward the building of a new high school and additional facilities at Thirkill elementary. As a bond, the vote required a 67% threshold for passage, and it received 43.61% (867) of the votes cast, to 56.39% (1,121) against. Superintendent Scoot Muir stated in the runup to the vote that the current building is beyond its expected lifetime of use, and is in serious need of replacement. The district has stated that it plans to keep re-running versions of the bond until they are able to get something passed. It was noted that the underlying costs of the financing the bond and securing bids for the project will continue to rise each year, as will the need for a new school. Some discussions of consolidating the county’s school districts is likely to increase as the results of the failed bond become a part of the discussion regarding education in the county moving forward.
The results of the election are unofficial as of press time, and will not become official until they are approved after being canvassed by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday.
