A national school choice advocacy organization has reported spending $50,000 on broadcast advertising targeting two Republican primary races in Idaho, according to filings with state elections officials.
The American Federation for Children’s AFC Victory Fund disclosed the expenditures Friday, directing opposition advertising against Melissa Durrant in House District 23 Seat A and Megan Blanksma in the Senate District 8 race. Durrant is challenging incumbent Rep. Chris Bruce, R-Kuna, while Blanksma is running against incumbent Sen. Christy Zito, R-Mountain Home.
Group Doubles Down in Kuna House Race
The largest share of the spending targeted the House District 23 race, where Durrant faces $27,500 in opposition ads. Bruce, meanwhile, received $33,422 in support through direct mailings, social media, and text messages in earlier lobbying expenditures reported by the group’s parent organization.
The May 19 primary represents a rematch between Bruce and Durrant. In 2024, Bruce defeated Durrant by just 83 votes in one of the closest legislative primaries in the state. During that race, the Idaho Federation for Children PAC spent $80,655 in independent expenditures opposing Durrant’s candidacy.
Bruce has been a strong supporter of school choice policies in the Legislature. The national organization’s decision to invest heavily in his race suggests the seat remains a priority for school choice advocates.
Tax Credit Cap Debate in Senate District 8
In the Senate District 8 race, Zito told education reporters in March that she supports increasing the $50 million cap on Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit. The program provides $5,000 per student to cover non-public school tuition, or $7,500 for students with disabilities.
Zito pointed to high demand for the tax credit as justification for expanding the program. More than 6,000 families have applied for the credit, according to the senator’s March remarks. She noted the per-student cost is less than what the state spends to educate children in public schools.
Blanksma, one of two candidates challenging Zito in the primary, argued in March that the tax credit primarily benefits families in the Treasure Valley rather than residents of the rural district Zito represents. The AFC Victory Fund reported $22,500 in broadcast ads opposing Blanksma’s candidacy.
National Group Shifts Idaho Strategy
The spending marks a shift in how the American Federation for Children operates in Idaho elections. The organization terminated the Idaho Federation for Children PAC in early April and now directs its Idaho political activity through the national AFC Victory Fund super PAC.
A spokesman for the national organization told education reporters the change creates a cleaner operation. The group remains active in multiple states and considers Idaho a priority state for advancing school choice policies.
What Comes Next
Idaho voters will decide the Republican primary races on May 19. The winners in these safely Republican districts are expected to prevail in the November general election.
The American Federation for Children’s continued investment in Idaho legislative races signals that school choice policy will remain a central issue in Republican primaries. With the Parental Choice Tax Credit now in its second year of operation, debate over expanding or maintaining the program is likely to feature prominently in contested races across the state.
Campaign finance reports will show whether other organizations enter these races in the final weeks before the primary election.