Megan Blanksma | |
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Majority Leader of the Idaho House of Representatives | |
In office December 1, 2022 –February 8, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Mike Moyle |
Succeeded by | Jason Monks |
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives | |
In office December 1,2016 –November 30,2024 | |
Preceded by | Pete Nielsen |
Succeeded by | Faye Thompson |
Constituency | 23rd district Seat B (2016–2020) 8th district Seat B (2020–2024) |
Personal details | |
Born | Nampa,Idaho,U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Education | University of Idaho (BS) |
Megan C. Blanksma is an American politician who served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from District 8 in seat B. [1] A member of the Republican Party,she served as the majority leader in the House of Representatives from 2022 to February 8,2024,when she was removed due to disagreements within the Republican caucus. [2]
Blanksma was born and raised in Nampa. She graduated from Nampa High School and served as a legislative page in the Idaho Senate during her senior year. Later,she earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Idaho.
From 2014 to 2016,Blanksma served as Chair of the Elmore County Republican Party,after many years as a volunteer in many capacities at the county and state level. [3] She also serves on the St. Luke's Elmore Community Board.
Blanksma challenged 14-year incumbent Pete Nielsen in the Republican primary in 2016. She was endorsed by Governor Butch Otter. [4] After securing the nomination,Blanksma faced only independent and third party opposition in the general election and was elected to the seat.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic,Blanksma criticized the Idaho Central District Health for endorsing a statement by Lauren McLean,the Democratic mayor of Boise,who supported Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance regarding masking and vaccines. [5]
Blanksma and her husband,Jeff,live on a farm in Hammett,Idaho.
Year | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 Primary [6] | Megan Blanksma | 3,387 | 71.0% | Pete Nielsen (incumbent) | 1,052 | 22.1% | Justin Freeman | 329 | 6.9% | ||||
2016 General [7] | Megan Blanksma | 10,810 | 77.1% | Bill Chisholm | 2,335 | 16.6% | Christopher Jenkins | 889 | 6.3% | ||||
2018 Primary [8] | Megan Blanksma | 4,328 | 100% | ||||||||||
2018 General [9] | Megan Blanksma | 10,441 | 97.9% | Tony Ullrich (Write-in) | 220 | 2.1% | |||||||
2020 Primary [10] | Megan Blanksma | 6,112 | 100% | ||||||||||
2020 General [11] | Megan Blanksma | 12,941 | 74.5% | Michael Oliver | 3,234 | 18.6% | Tony Ullrich | 1,186 | 6.8% |
Year | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Primary [12] | Megan Blanksma | 6,995 | 100% | ||||||||||
2022 General [13] | Megan Blanksma | 12,604 | 83.6% | Tony Ullrich | 2,482 | 16.5% |