by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports

All three incumbent lawmakers in Legislative District 8 lost their Republican primary races Tuesday, with voters in Elmore, Boise, Valley and Custer counties favoring challengers from the right.

Sen. Geoff Schroder, R-Mountain Home, lost to former Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett.

Rep. Megan Blanksma, R-Hammett, lost to Valley County GOP chair Faye Thompson. R-McCall.

Rep. Matt Bundy, R-Mountain Home, lost to repeat challenger Matt Beiswenger, R-Horseshoe Bend.

The three-seat sweep marks a major victory for the conservative right wing of the party. Blanksma was a key architect of the Idaho Launch program and a supporter of the traditional budget process before her removal as House Majority Leader. Bundy and Schroeder were among the more moderate Republicans in their respective chambers, unafraid to buck the party line on social issues.

The district was squarely in the sights of the Idaho Freedom PAC, the campaign arm of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, with Zito and Beiswenger among their first endorsements in 2023.

Beiswenger faces no challenger in the November general election. Zito will face Democratic candidate David Hoag for the Senate seat. Thompson will face Democratic Party candidate Jared Dawson and Constitution Party candidate Tony Ullrich for House Seat B.