Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Idaho State Senate District 15
| Idaho State Senate District 15 | ||
 | ||
| Current incumbent | Fred S. Martin  | |
| Population | 40,177 | |
| Ethnicity | 1.1% Black, 7.2% Hispanic[1] | |
| Voting age | 75.4% age 18 and over | |
Idaho's fifteenth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Fred S. Martin.
As of the 2010 census, a total of 40,177 civilians reside within Idaho's fifteenth state senate district.[2] Idaho state senators represent an average of 44,788 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,970 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Idaho State Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Idaho legislators assume office on the first day in December following the general election.[3]
Qualifications
Article III, Section 6 of the Idaho Constitution states: "No person shall be a senator or representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, and an elector of this state, nor anyone who has not been for one year next preceding his election an elector of the county or district whence he may be chosen."[4]
According to the Idaho Secretary of State, candidates must be 21 years old.[5]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[6] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $19,913/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $74/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $221/day. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Idaho State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement.
The political party committee that last held the vacant seat has 15 days after the vacancy occurs to submit a list of three recommended candidates to the governor. The governor makes the selection based on the recommendations.
If any party committee fails to submit a list of recommended candidates after the 15-day deadline, the governor has five days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat. The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.[7]
See sources: Idaho Code §59-904A
Elections
2018
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Idaho State Senate District 15
Incumbent Fred S. Martin defeated Jim Bratnober in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 15 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Fred S. Martin (R) | 50.0 | 8,947 |
 | Jim Bratnober (D)  | 50.0 | 8,936 | |
| Total votes: 17,883 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 15
Jim Bratnober advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 15 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Bratnober | 100.0 | 2,027 |
| Total votes: 2,027 | |||
| = 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 Idaho State Senate District 15
Incumbent Fred S. Martin defeated Sarah Clendenon in the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 15 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Fred S. Martin | 67.2 | 2,837 |
 | Sarah Clendenon | 32.8 | 1,382 | |
| Total votes: 4,219 | |||
| = 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 State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Idaho State Senate 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 Fred S. Martin defeated Laura Metzler in the Idaho State Senate District 15 general election.[8][9]
| Idaho State Senate, District 15 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Fred S. Martin Incumbent |
56.33% | 10,580 | |
| Democratic | Laura Metzler | 43.67% | 8,203 | |
| Total Votes | 18,783 | |||
| Source: Idaho Secretary of State | ||||
Laura Metzler ran unopposed in the Idaho State Senate District 15 Democratic primary.[10][11]
| Idaho State Senate District 15, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Laura Metzler (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Fred S. Martin ran unopposed in the Idaho State Senate District 15 Republican primary.[12][13]
| Idaho State Senate District 15, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Fred S. Martin Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Idaho State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 14, 2014. Richard Keller was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Fred S. Martin defeated Diego Rodriguez in the Republican primary. Keller was defeated by Martin in the general election. Quane Kenyon, Sr. (R) filed to run but did not appear on the primary ballot.[14][15][16]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred S. Martin Incumbent |
57.7% | 7,244 | |
| Democratic | Richard Keller | 42.3% | 5,302 | |
| Total Votes | 12,546 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fred S. Martin Incumbent |
60.3% | 2,034 |
| Diego Rodriguez | 39.7% | 1,339 |
| Total Votes | 3,373 | |
2012
- See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Idaho State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 15, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2012. Fred S. Martin (R) defeated Betty Richardson (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[17][18]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred S. Martin |
52.1% | 9,545 | |
| Democratic | Betty Richardson | 47.9% | 8,783 | |
| Total Votes | 18,328 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Idaho State Senate District 15 raised a total of $529,412. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $22,059 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
| Campaign contributions, Idaho State Senate District 15 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average | |
| 2016 | $58,858 | 2 | $29,429 | |
| 2014 | $63,976 | 3 | $21,325 | |
| 2012 | $214,946 | 2 | $107,473 | |
| 2010 | $12,330 | 2 | $6,165 | |
| 2008 | $12,700 | 1 | $12,700 | |
| 2006 | $55,244 | 4 | $13,811 | |
| 2004 | $24,994 | 2 | $12,497 | |
| 2002 | $54,164 | 4 | $13,541 | |
| 2000 | $32,200 | 4 | $8,050 | |
| Total | $529,412 | 24 | $22,059 | |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ For more information on the parameters the U.S. Census Bureau use, please see our Race and Ethnicity on the United States Census page.
- ↑ publicmapping.org, "Idaho 2010 Census Statistics," accessed October 3, 2013
- ↑ Idaho Constitution, "Article III, Section 3," accessed December 18, 2019
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Article III Legislative Department - Section 6," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ Vote Idaho, "How to Run for Office," accessed May 27, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes," accessed January 23, 2024 (Statute 59-904A)
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "General election candidate list," accessed August 16, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Nov 08, 2016 General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Declaration for March 11, 2016, primary," accessed March 11, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Declaration for March 11, 2016, primary," accessed March 11, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 17, 2016
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 18, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 12, 2014
- ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 20, 2014
- ↑ "Secretary of State - Official Primary Results," accessed October 3, 2013
- ↑ "Idaho Secretary of State - Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed October 3, 2013
