Legislative races taking shape

SANDPOINT — Contested primary races are forming in most of the contests for legislative seats in Boise.

District 1 incumbent Shawn Keough and Danielle Ahrens are squaring off in the primary for the Republican nomination. The winner will advance to face Laura Bry, chairwoman of Bonner County’s Democratic Central Committee, in the general election.

Two Republicans — Donna Capurso and Louis “Louie” Kins are challenging incumbent District 1A Rep. Eric Anderson in the May 15 primary. Andrew Sorg, a Democratic candidate from Sandpoint, will face the primary victor in November.

Incumbent District 1B Rep. George Eskridge is being challenged by Pam Stout for the GOP nod. The race for this post could be decided during the primary because no other challengers have declared their candidacy.

Although the newly formed seventh legislative district reaches into Bonner County, none of the declared candidates hail from here.

Sheryl Nuxoll of Cottonwood is a shoo-in for the Republican nomination for District 7 state senator. She’ll face Jon Cantamessa, an independent from Wallace, in the general election.

Three people are in the hunt for the GOP nomination for District 7’s A seat — Ed Galloway of Lenore, Shannon McMillan of Silverton and Rex Rammell of Kooskia. There are no declared challengers in the general election for this race.

James Paradiso, a Democrat from Grangeville, and Paul Shepherd, a Republican from Riggins, are shoo-ins for their respective party’s nominations. There are no declared challengers so far for the general election.