Free Republic

State Treasurer Ron Crane to Serve as Chairman and Former State GOP Chairman Norm Semanko as Idaho State DirectorHOUSTON, Texas - Presidential candidate Ted Cruz continues to build out a strong, national organization, today naming State Treasurer Ron Crane as the Idaho State Chairman and former State GOP Chairman Norm Semanko as Idaho State Director for the Cruz for President Campaign. Idaho hosts its GOP primary on March 8, 2016."Idaho is an important state for us, and with Ron serving as our Chairman and Norm as our State Director, we gain two of the most respected conservatives in the state,"...

SANDPOINT, Idaho — New Idaho Republican Chairman Norm Semanko takes over a party that dominates the state but threatened to burst at the seams at this weekend's convention, with disparate factions at odds over everything from tackling marijuana legalization to whether to close the state's GOP primary to all but registered party voters. Semanko ousted two-term incumbent Kirk Sullivan, who earlier Saturday had been endorsed by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. The tally was 227-169. A separate 199-192 vote among delegates in Sandpoint that supported retaining the state's open primary is indicative just how divided this convention was. That vote is...