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2016 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses

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Candidate Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton Home state Vermont New York Delegate count 18 5 Popular vote 18,640 5,065 Percentage 78.04% 21.21%

Election results by county. Sanders   50 – 60%   60 – 70%   70 – 80%   80 – 90%   100% Clinton   50 – 60%

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v t e

The 2016 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses took place on March 22 in the U.S. state of Idaho as one of the Democratic Party's primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Voters convened in each of Idaho's 44 counties at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time/6 p.m Pacific Standard Time to proportionally allocate the state's 27 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

Campaigning

Both major candidates made efforts to either send surrogates or campaign themselves in Idaho before the caucuses took place. On March 17, Olympian Michelle Kwan campaigned for Hillary Clinton at Boise State University, where she spoke to about 150 supporters. On March 18, Bernie Sanders spoke at a local high school in Idaho Falls, Idaho drawing approximately 3,200 supporters. On March 21, the day before the Democratic caucuses, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke to approximately 7,000 supporters at the Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State University.

Aftermath

The caucus was later regarded as having prepared the ground for the Paulette Jordan gubernatorial campaign two years later, inasmuch as it demonstrated the popularity of progressive policy proposals amongst the Idahoan left.

Opinion polling

Results

Gallery

• Sen. Sanders speaks to a packed arena at Boise State University the day before the caucuses
• A portion of the Bernie Sanders side at the Ada County caucus

Analysis

Sanders won Idaho by a four-to-one margin over Hillary Clinton, a similarly large landslide win that Barack Obama had enjoyed over Clinton in the Idaho caucuses eight years prior. In a majority white, rural, and ideologically libertarian electorate, Sanders had the upper hand. He won all counties but one on election day, carrying the major cities of Boise in Ada County, Pocatello in Bannock County, and Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. He was also bolstered by rural support from Southern Idaho to the Northern Panhandle, and in Central Idaho including Treasure Valley. Such regions are among the most remote and radically conservative areas of the country.

The Ada County caucus, held at CenturyLink Arena, which was the largest caucus in U.S. history, easily broke the 2008 record, with many voters waiting in line for three or four hours in brisk wind chill. The mile-long line stretched for several city blocks; more than 9,100 voters participated in what was called a "massive" turnout, especially given Idaho's status as a Republican stronghold.

Sanders won 78.0% of the vote statewide; only his home state of Vermont, Alaska, and Utah have given him a wider margin of victory.

References

1. "Politics Columns & Blogs - IdahoStatesman.com & Idaho Statesman".
2. "Idaho parties trying to increase state's impact in selecting president".
3. "Caucus 2016 - Idaho Democratic Party".
4. "Olympic figure skater campaigns for Clinton in Boise". KTVB. March 17, 2016. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
5. "Bernie Sanders Official Website".
6. "Bernie Sanders draws thousands to Idaho Falls rally". idahostatesman. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
7. ^ "Massive Turnout Reported at Idaho Caucus Sites". The Rachel Maddow Show. March 22, 2016.
8. KRUESI, KIMBERLEE (March 21, 2016). "Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at Taco Bell Arena". KIVI-TV. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
9. Ehlert, Robert (March 21, 2016). "Bernie Sanders leaves Boise's Taco Bell Arena after rally". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
10. Sewell, Cynthia (August 19, 2018). "Why Paulette Jordan says she can bust Idaho's Republican stronghold". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
11. Caucus results
12. Bernick. "Poll: Trump Leads in Idaho Ahead of Tuesday's Primary". idahopoliticsweekly.com.
13. Bryan. "Idaho Democrats Pick Clinton; Republicans Still Undecided". idahopoliticsweekly.com.
14. "ID Politics Weekly". Idaho Politics Weekly. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
15. "Donald Trump, Jeb Bush Lead GOP Field in Idaho". Idaho Politics Weekly. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
16. Bryan. "Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton Lead 2016 Presidential Contenders in the Gem State". idahopoliticsweekly.com.
17. The Green Papers
18. Idaho Democratic Party - Official Delegation for Pledged Delegates
19. Dentzer, Bill; Moeller, Katy; Webb, Anna; Barker, Rocky (March 23, 2016). "Idaho Democrats pick Sanders by wide margin". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
20. O'Brien, Cortny (March 22, 2016). "Mile-Long Line At Idaho Democratic Caucus Site". Townhall.com. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
21. "Bernie Sanders wins Idaho Democratic caucuses". KTVB. March 23, 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
22. Deshais, Nicholas (March 23, 2016). "Sanders trounces Clinton in Idaho caucus". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
23. "Vermont Democratic Delegation 2016".
24. "Utah Election Results 2016".

• 2016 United States Democratic presidential primaries by state
• 2016 Idaho elections
• Idaho Democratic caucuses