What to know in secretary of state race + Symposium connects WWII incarceration to immigration debate + Column: Opportunity Zones can help bring needed investment

By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief

“I Voted” stickers are available for voters to pick up after casting their ballot in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Lowell Elementary School in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

ELECTION 2026

The race for Idaho’s top election official, the secretary of state, is a rematch

By Kyle Pfannenstiel

In the race for Idaho’s top election official, two familiar names are headed to the ballot.

Democratic challenger Shawn Keenan is again challenging Republican incumbent Secretary of State Phil McGrane, who widely defeated Keenan in the 2022 election.

Keenan, a mortgage broker and loan officer who lives in Coeur d’Alene, says he’s running again to avoid and combat election misinformation.

McGrane, a seasoned Idaho election official seeking a second term, says he’s running on a track record of keeping elections secure and improving access to election information.

The Minidoka National Historic Site in southern Idaho offers 1.6 miles of gravel walking trails. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

IMMIGRATION

Friends of Minidoka symposium connects Japanese-American incarceration to immigration debate

By Christina Lords

The Friends of Minidoka nonprofit will host its 2026 symposium, which will feature a film screening, legal discussion and lecture, “to consider the enduring importance of due process, equal protection, and civic engagement in protecting our civil liberties and strengthening democracy,” according to a press release from the organization.

An orange “detour ahead” sign alerts motorists of a new route around new housing construction in Boise in summer 2026. (Photo by Abigail Gerstein/Idaho Capital Sun)

COMMENTARY

Opportunity Zones can help bring investment, development to Idaho areas that need it most

By Peter Smith

The idea is straightforward: give investors a financial reason to put money into communities that could benefit from more economic activity, writes guest columnist Peter Smith.

MORE IDAHO NEWS FROM US

2026 general election voter guide: The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote. | Idaho Capital Sun staff
Idaho’s upcoming Nov. 3 general election top focus for Boise No Kings protest | Laura Guido

MORE NATIONAL NEWS FROM US

Democrats could flip legislative chambers, break GOP supermajorities, analysis finds | Kevin Hardy

ICYMI

Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting

Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall

Coeur d’Alene Press: Churches weigh in on Prop 1
Idaho State Journal: Bannock County early voting could break midterm record after busy first week
Lewiston Tribune: Congressional candidates weigh in on public lands
Sandpoint Reader: Panhandle Health District announces new CFO
Valley Lookout: Valley County to pursue levy to tackle $84 million roadwork backlog

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