Race of the Day- Idaho U.S. Senate

87 Days Until Election Day

Status: Republican Incumbent
2012 Presidential Result: Red State (West)

Outlook: Safe Republican

Once again, when it comes to Senate races, the battleground contests are elsewhere, as Republican dominated Idaho is poised to reelect Senator Mike Crapo to his fourth term.

Having held elected office since 1984, the low-keyed Crapo is entrenched in office. This is despite the fact that he received some bad headlines towards the beginning of 2013, after pleading guilty to a DUI in Virginia. His arrest came as a surprise to many Idahoans and the Senator apologized for letting down his constituents, as well as the tenants of his own Mormon faith.

Some Idaho Republican incumbents have generated primary challenges from the right in recent  years, but Crapo was unopposed in 2016. So was his Democrat opponent, businessman Jerry Sturgill. His main campaign platform seems to be getting money out of politics.

Crapo has endorsed Presidential nominee Donald Trump, but has also expressed disagreements with some of the policy positions he has taken, and kept the controversial candidate at arm's length. While Trump has the potential to be a drag on many GOP Senate candidates, and even though many Idaho Republicans, especially Mormons, may be anti-Trump, Idaho is so politically red, that Crapo will hardly be affected.

Crapo campaign link:

http://crapoforsenate.com/

Senate races predicted thus far: 4 D (3 Safe, 1 Likely), 7 R (3 Safe, 2 Likely, 2 Leans)
Overall predicted thus far: 40 D, 37 R