Arthur B. Macomber

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Arthur B. Macomber

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 17, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

George Fox University, 1998

Law

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2003

Personal

Birthplace

New Jersey

Religion

Christian

Profession

Practicing transactional and civil litigator

Contact

Campaign website

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Personal website

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Arthur B. Macomber (Republican Party) (also known as Art) ran for election for Attorney General of Idaho. He lost in the Republican primary on May 17, 2022.

Macomber completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Arthur B. Macomber was born in Montclair, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree from George Fox University in 1998. He earned a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2003. His career experience includes working as a practicing transactional and civil litigator. Macomber taught contracts drafting at Gonzaga Law School, and Contracts for Paralegals at North Idaho College. He has published several articles in the Idaho State Bar “Advocate” magazine. Macomber has argued six cases before the Idaho State Supreme Court. Macomber wrote section 29 of Article III of the Idaho Constitution. He is affiliated with local and state bar associations and the Federalist Society.

Elections

2022

See also: Idaho Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Idaho

Raúl Labrador defeated Tom Arkoosh in the general election for Attorney General of Idaho on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Raúl Labrador (R)	62.6	367,579
		Tom Arkoosh (D)	37.4	219,405

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 586,984
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Steven Scanlin (D)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Idaho

Steven Scanlin advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Idaho on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steven Scanlin	100.0	31,620

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,620
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Idaho

Raúl Labrador defeated incumbent Lawrence Wasden and Arthur B. Macomber in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Idaho on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Raúl Labrador	51.6	140,585
		Lawrence Wasden	37.9	103,393
		Arthur B. Macomber	10.5	28,700

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 272,678
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Idaho House of Representatives were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent Luke Malek defeated Patrick P. Mitchell in the Idaho House of Representatives District 4A general election.

Idaho House of Representatives, District 4A General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Luke Malek Incumbent	68.82%	14,229
	Democratic	Patrick P. Mitchell	31.18%	6,447
Total Votes				20,676
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

Patrick P. Mitchell defeated Turns To The East in the Idaho House of Representatives District 4A Democratic primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 4A, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Patrick P. Mitchell	79.13%	675
	Democratic	Turns To The East	20.87%	178
Total Votes				853
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

Incumbent Luke Malek defeated Arthur B. Macomber in the Idaho House of Representatives District 4A Republican primary.

Idaho House of Representatives District 4A, Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Luke Malek Incumbent	58.37%	2,263
	Republican	Arthur B. Macomber	41.63%	1,614
Total Votes				3,877
Source: Idaho Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released Jan 3, 2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Arthur B. Macomber completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Macomber's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I went to UC Hastings College of the Law at age 45 after a successful career in the telephone, construction, and real estate industries.

I grew my law firm, Macomber Law from a solo practice to six attorneys practicing in three States. I argued before the Idaho State Supreme Court six times, and have a decades long deep understanding of the relationship of the two constitutions.

Idaho is a common law State, and I am a scholar of English legal history. I taught contract law at Spokane’s Gonzaga Law School and North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Happily married for 30 years, my wife and I have two children in graduate school at the University of Idaho.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Federal overreach must be countered by State AGs!
• Idaho must reinvigorate it’s State sovereign power.
• Idaho values anchor Idaho law, and they must be defended!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about the relationship between the State Constitution and the federal Constitution, and particularly the separation of powers challenges found in both systems according to their original design.

The Attorney General position is not a policy job, and so a deep understanding of Idaho’s legal structures is critical to success. In addition, it is important to have a thorough understanding of private property rights, water rights, and Idaho’s primary economic components of natural resources, agriculture, and high technology.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Internally to the State, this office is designed to exercise checks on executive branch power. Also, it exercises investigatory and prosecutorial powers related to certain fraud, consumer protection, and criminal appellate duties.

As to matters external to the State, this position is charged with collaborating with other State Attorneys General to make sure the federal government stays within the boundaries of its originally designed set of powers.

The National Association of Attorneys General has described the office as being at the "intersection of law and public policy." What does that mean to you?

A State Attorney General has to demonstrate fidelity to their State Constitution, and so when giving advice to the formal State government must account for the rights of the citizens as embodied in that Constitution. In this way, a State Attorney General figures out the current status of the law, and then may issue opinions related to creation of new law, or revision or repeal of existing law.

The attorney general often sets policy priorities for law enforcement. For example, a state's attorney general may decide to dedicate extra resources to combat human trafficking. Are there certain areas of law enforcement that you would emphasize?

On the criminal front, Idaho would emphasize and fight child pornography, sex and human trafficking, and areas where innocent adults and children are at risk.

A state's attorney general has many responsibilities. Which of those do you personally consider the most important?

The double edge sword approach, one side of which checks executive branch power in the State, and the other side of which checks executive branch federal power.

Attorneys general can represent their states in legal conflicts with the federal government. Do you consider this an important part of an attorney general's responsibilities?

Yes. Legal conflicts with the federal government are legion since the 1930s, and is the obligation of State Attorneys General to restore the original design and relationship between federal and State power, because this is the only way to truly protect individual freedom.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a state's attorney general to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. Large private sector organizational experiences are more helpful from an administrative point of view than is previous government experience. A no-nonsense private sector intolerance for bureaucracy is an extraordinarily helpful attribute in government work. A public servant attitude assures that the phone gets answered, the house gets cleaned, deadwood is thrown out or burned, and the government organization is refreshed for future generations.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have always looked up to the great man of history who dig a little deeper. These people will include Lord Coke, Blackstone, James Madison, Ben Franklin, and a smattering of U.S. Supreme Court justices, including Justices Scalia and Thomas. I try to follow Christ’s examples, but I keep falling in the water. Still trying.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

No.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honest and forthright planning and execution of a thoughtful leadership vision for the organization’s professionals is critical. Elected officials must consider how to better protect the freedoms of individual citizens when advising and administering the government apparatus.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Because I am honest, dogged without being stubborn, fair without being weak, and have no trouble speaking truth to power and fighting for what is right. Plus, I get up early, stay late, make lists, and ruthlessly execute administrative tasks.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A thorough understanding of the legal structures to provide thought leadership for the organization, a keen sense of the dividing line between law and politics with a preference for the former, and a genetic preference for honest and ethical behavior in order to root out and prosecute corruption.

A State Attorney General must withstand the slings and arrows of unfair public calumny, while standing strong regardless of the opposition.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I will stabilize the Idaho Republic by putting executive branch attorneys back in the legislative branch were some of them are required and needed, and then I will focus on cutting executive branch rules to increase the freedom of Idaho citizens.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I have an ancient but foggy memory of the Kennedy assassination in 1963, and then the Goldwater election of ‘64. I was around 8.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a dishwasher for a summer in 10th grade. I have been a dishwasher, a ditch digger, a concrete finisher and framing carpenter, roofer, telephone employee in numerous positions, Realtor, stage carpenter, computer salesman and quad – processor computer server product developer, and finally a lawyer. In all of these jobs I was an early riser, a hard-working builder, and a forthright and honest project collaborator.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Blackstone’s Commentaries on the English Law, because it is so clearly organized and easy to understand.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

The husband of Lady Liberty.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The Star-Spangled Banner.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I am 66 years old, but the book is not published yet. Marriage, divorce, death, battles with the church, schools, government bureaucracy, siblings, and life in general all come to mind.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Three branches of government walk into a bar, and the legislative branch says, “We want a drink!“

The executive branch says, “I will go order!“

But the judiciary says, “I will defer to both of you, but in my judgment this is not a good idea.“

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2016

Macomber's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

Education Excerpt: "Local governance of the schools, although not a perfect system, is the best way to keep bureaucracies responsive to the needs of children." Fiscal responsibility Excerpt: "Today, Idaho’s dependency on federal dollars is not only wrong, but it undermines Idaho’s State sovereignty. We should limit the size and scope of Idaho’s government to 'fit' our taxation revenue base. Idaho needs a 10-year plan to phase out federal funding of Idaho State government operations." Gun control Excerpt: "I support permitless carry laws that allow citizens to carry concealed and loaded firearms without a special government permit." Health and welfare Excerpt: "Idaho should encourage a vigorous Direct Primary Care (DPC) market. In these markets, and at a cost to an individual patient of between $50 and $100 per month, a person needing health care may hire their own doctor for regular and minor care situations. Catastrophic care insurance markets should be further encouraged in Idaho. There are other market incentives that need investigating." Immigration Excerpt: "Idaho must implement a no-tolerance policy for illegal immigrants who are also felons. Idaho employers must verify that workers are eligible to work in the United States." Right to life Excerpt: "Science proves life begins at conception and, except for extraordinary circumstances, I defend the rights of those who cannot defend themselves."

”

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