by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports

Incumbent Idaho Republican Party chairwoman Dorothy Moon easily won her bid on Saturday to continue as the leader of the state’s dominant political party.

Convention delegates elected a full slate of “liberty” leadership candidates aligned with Moon by about a 30-point margin.

Professional news media were allowed into the event to observe party officer nominations and voting after being denied access to earlier convention proceedings.

Moon highlighted her dedication to the Idaho Republican platform and enforcing the party’s rules as she asked the convention delegates to grant her a second term at the helm.

“I’m the real deal,” Moon said. “When I took the gavel in Twin Falls, again, I said we’re going to honor the platform. We’re going to honor the U.S. and Idaho constitutions, and we’re going to follow the rules.”

She has been called an extremist and the leader of a cult, Moon said, but she represents the party.

“We have not moved from where we’ve always stood,” Moon said. “I have never seen such a reactive administration to the Republican Party as I have under my stead.”

Numerous convention attendees stood to cheer and chant “Dorothy” before and after her candidate speech.

After Moon’s victory was announced, she specifically called out past party chairs Tom Luna and Trent Clark – the leaders of the Gem State Conservatives group that aimed to flip precinct committee seats and elect new party leaders – telling them they need to help unite the party.

“We are not the fringe, folks, for some of you in here who think we are,” Moon said.

Clark took to the microphone to congratulate Moon and pledged to support her as chair.

“It’s a good first step, if everyone can work for the good of the party instead of these squabbles,” Moon told Idaho Reports.

Idaho Democratic Party chair Lauren Necochea released a statement shortly after the news.

“Today’s reelection of Dorothy Moon further entrenched the extremists who have taken over the Idaho Republican Party. If my grandmother – a Reagan Republican born and raised in Idaho – were alive today, she would not believe what has become of the party,” Necochea said.

Moon told Idaho Reports she is excited to “continue on the good work we’ve been doing” over the past two years. She said her top priority moving forward is fighting ranked choice voting.

Race	Candidate – Votes	Candidate – Votes
Chair	Dorothy Moon – 376	Mary Souza – 228
1st Vice Chair	Mark Fuller – 382	Wayne Hurst – 223
2nd Vice Chair	Viki Purdy – 403	Billy Knorpp – 186
Secretary	Maria Nate – 387	Charlene Matheson – 212
Treasurer	Steve Bender – 412	Brian Garrett – 187
National Committeeman	Bryan Smith – 390	Tom Luna – 200
National Committeewoman	Vicki Keen – 396	Shellie Blanchard – 191

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