Attorney General Raúl Labrador files new lawsuit against Idahoans for Open Primaries

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador filed a new lawsuit in his latest challenge to the Open Primaries Act.

According to the Office of Attorney General Raúl Labrador, the office filed a new lawsuit against Idahoans for Open Primaries in the Fourth Judicial District Court on Friday.

The Idaho Supreme Court dismissed the office’s previous lawsuit, and the office said the new challenge arises from guidance from the court’s opinion.

“This coalition obtained thousands of signatures for the initiative by telling Idahoans it would restore the open primary system Idaho had before 2011, even after the Idaho Supreme Court ruled that claim was false and that the initiative’s primary system is ‘significantly different’ than an open primary,” Labrador claimed.

Labrador claimed that the initiative abolishes party primaries and institutes ranked-choice voting in the general election. He contended that petition signers did not know the initiative included this.

Idahoans for Open Primaries claimed that voters should have the final say on the initiative rather than the Attorney General.

“Raúl Labrador is wasting taxpayer dollars to pursue a frivolous lawsuit,” said Luke Mayville, spokesperson for Idahoans for Open Primaries. “The people of Idaho have made it clear that they want an opportunity to decide for themselves. We are committed to moving forward and ensuring that every voter has a chance to participate in all elections, regardless of party affiliation.”

Mayville claimed Labrador’s new case was baseless and that Labrador was doing everything he could to deny voters a voice.

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