Republican Legislative Candidate Says Democrat Candidate Swap was ‘Illegal’
By Greg Pruett • August 9, 2024Kent Marmon, a Republican candidate for the Idaho House in District 11, Seat A, is challenging his Democratic challenger’s appointment on June 18, alleging that the Canyon County Democrats’ move was illegal.
Marmon faced Anthony Porto until June 18, when Porto withdrew from the race. The Canyon County Democrats appointed Toni Ferro to challenge Marmon for the seat instead. However, Ferro was originally slated to challenge Camille Blaylock for State Senate in District 11, which primarily covers the city of Caldwell.
After his withdrawal, Porto was appointed to challenge Blaylock instead.
Marmon sent the Idaho Secretary of State’s office an email challenging the appointment of both candidates, saying they should be disqualified, citing Idaho Code 34-717(2). Here is Marmon’s full email to the SOS office:
“It appears that the withdrawal of candidates Toni Ferro (District 11 Senate candidate) and Anthony Porto (District 11-A State Representative) indicates they have formally left the race under 34-717 Idaho Code.
According to section 2 of 34-717, neither can be appointed to fill the vacancy they created for a different office. Therefore, their appointments to run for Idaho House District 11-A by Toni Ferro and for Idaho Senate District 11 by Anthony Porto is in direct violation of 34-717(2) of the Idaho Code.
AdvertisementTheir names should be removed immediately as candidates for either office.”
The text of IC 34-717(2) states:
“(2) Any candidate who has filed a statement of withdrawal pursuant to this section shall not be allowed to be appointed to fill a vacancy unless such vacancy occurs because of the death of a previous candidate.”
AdvertisementAccording to Marmon, neither candidate was replacing a deceased candidate, so they could not be appointed. Marmon said the Canyon County Democrats could replace Ferro and Porto with other candidates, just not those two because of Idaho law. When Idaho Dispatch asked Marmon why he was disputing the appointment now, six weeks after the withdrawal and appointments had occurred, Marmon said he was not aware of the change until several days ago when Blaylock notified him their candidates had swapped places.
Marmon told Idaho Dispatch about the dispute:
“I am challenging this candidate swap (musical chairs) because it is illegal! It violates Idaho Code 34-717, which prohibits candidates who withdraw from a race that they successfully primaried from being appointed to run in another race. if this action by the Democrat Party was legal, there would be nothing to protest.”
Marmon also told Idaho Dispatch the Idaho SOS office sent him the following initial response to his challenge:
“Good morning Mr. Marmon,
This is Rob McQuade from the Secretary of State’s Office. I’m writing to let you know we’ve received your email. We’re working with the AG’s Office on the issue you’ve raised and will be in touch with you later today.
All the best,
Rob McQuade”
Idaho Dispatch has contacted Ferro, Porto, the Canyon County Democrats, Blaylock, Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, and the Idaho Attorney General’s office for comment. We have not received a response from any of them, but we will update the article with any response.
Tags: Anthony Porto, Camille Blaylock, Canyon County Democrats, Dorothy Moon, Idaho Attorney General, Idaho Secretary of State, Kent Marmon, Toni Ferro
3 thoughts on “Republican Legislative Candidate Says Democrat Candidate Swap was ‘Illegal’”
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Wow, stunning…Democratic party members trying to skirt laws and/or rules? Sadly this was only brought to Mr. Marmon’s attention after a long period of time as it could have been obviously addressed/exposed sooner.
We’re seeing all the shady politics from the Dems at every level now that they have (most of) the media selectively promoting their own leftist agendas. My problem with the entire process is the seeming lack of enforcement involving laws that are on the books.
I trust our current Attorney General, however…make us proud Mr. Labrador.
I agree with you, I’m totally shocked that the party of “democracy” is once again doing everything they can to do the opposite of democracy. Maybe “they’re the threat to our democracy”. More hypocrisy from the party of men in the girls bathroom (where numerous rapes have occurred), a mothers right to have her child butchered by a greedy godless “doctor”, men who call themselves women bashing in a real woman’s face in the Olympics (from the so called party of the woman), marriage “equality” (make believe marriage), tranny hour for the children at the library (wickedness), “equality and tolerance” (while shutting down anyone who disagrees with them).
What a tolerant loving (“love is love”) group. Can’t you feel the love from the party of wickedness and hatred. If they didn’t have the traitors in the media backing them they’d be fortunate to get 5% of the vote.
Dirty tricks are a way of life for the Democrats.