Branden Durst
Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 18th district
In office
December 1, 2012 – December 1, 2013
Preceded byMitch Toryanski
Succeeded byJanie Ward-Engelking
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 18A district
In office
December 1, 2006 – December 1, 2010
Preceded byDebbie Field
Succeeded byJulie Ellsworth
Personal details
Born (1980-01-15) January 15, 1980
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (Before 2016)
Republican (2016–present)
EducationPacific Lutheran University (BA)
Kent State University
Claremont Graduate University
Boise State University (MPA, EdS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Branden John Durst (born January 15, 1980) is a former politician from Boise, Idaho. Durst represented Idaho's 18th Legislative District in the Idaho House of Representative from 2006 to 2010, and in the Idaho Senate from 2012 to 2013.[1] He was the youngest member of the Idaho Senate.[2] Durst switched parties in 2016 and registered as a Republican as of November 2020.[3] Durst announced in January 2021 that he would be a Republican candidate for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction.[4] He ultimately placed second in the primary, earning about 34% of the vote (around 90,000 votes).[5]

Personal life

Durst was born in Boise, Idaho in 1980. He grew up in south Ada County and attended public schools and was a third generation graduate of Boise High School.[6]

Durst attended Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) as undergraduate where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a minor in communication.[7]

After graduating from PLU, Durst attended graduate school at Kent State University and Claremont Graduate University where he studied public policy analysis and international political economy, respectively. He returned to Boise, and subsequently enrolled at Boise State University (BSU) where he earned a Master of Public Administration degree. While enrolled at BSU, Durst earned an academic scholarship from the Department of Public Policy and Administration and a research assistantship from the Department of Economics.[7] In May 2022, Durst earned an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Executive Educational Leadership, also from BSU.

Durst is married to his wife, Cheri and has four sons and a daughter. Durst works for the Idaho Freedom Foundation.[8]

Idaho Legislature

In the Idaho Senate, Durst served as a member of the following committees:[9]

  • Agricultural Affairs
  • Commerce and Human Resources
  • Education

Durst was also a member of the joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee (EORAC).[10]

As a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, Durst wrote the first law creating the Advanced Opportunities program along with legislative colleague Steven Thayn.[11] Durst and Thayn wrote additional legislation expanding the program further while members of the state senate.[12]

On November 20, 2013, Durst submitted his resignation from the Idaho Senate effective December 1, 2013, to Gov. Butch Otter. It was alleged by the press, but never verified, that Durst was splitting his time between Boise and the Seattle area, where his family had relocated.[13][14] He was succeeded by Janie Ward-Engelking.[15]

Elections

District 18 House Seat A - Ada County
Year Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct
2006 Primary [16] Branden Durst 911 100%
2006 General [17] Branden Durst 6,664 48.6% Debbie Field (incumbent) 6,489 47.4 James Oyler 550 4.0%
2008 Primary [18] Branden Durst (incumbent) 1,283 100%
2008 General [19] Branden Durst (incumbent) 9,653 51.1% Julie Ellsworth 9,222 48.9%
District 18 Senate - Ada County
Year Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct
2010 Primary [20] Branden Durst 745 100%
2010 General [21] Branden Durst 6,352 49.6% Mitch Toryanski 6,455 50.4%
2012 Primary [22] Branden Durst 1,078 77.1% Matthew Duncan 321 22.9%
2012 General [23] Branden Durst 11,292 53.5% Mitch Toryanski (incumbent) 9,796 46.5%
District 29, Position 1 - Pierce County in Washington
Year Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct
2016 Primary [24] Branden Durst 3,614 23.7% David Sawyer (incumbent) 6,252 41% Rick Thomas 5,381 35.29%
2018 Boise School District Trustee (Vote for Three)[25]
Candidate Votes Pct
Branden Durst 567 4.9%
Alicia Estey 3,519 30.41%
Shari Fernandez 810 7.0%
Maria Greeley (incumbent) 3,252 28.10%
Troy Rohn (incumbent) 3,124 27.0%
James Tooman 300 2.59%
2022 Idaho Republican Primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction [26]
Candidate Votes Pct
Debbie Critchfield 104,592 39.61%
Branden Durst 89,288 33.81%
Sherri Ybarra 70,184 26.58%

References

  1. ↑ "Branden Durst". ADA County Democrats. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  2. ↑ Prentice, George. "Branden Durst 'If you look at the Democratic Senate Caucus, we're stronger than we were before.'" Archived 2019-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Boise Weekly, January 9, 2013. (accessed 20 August 2013)
  3. ↑ "Durst files paperwork for state superintendent's run". Idaho Education News. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ↑ IdahoEdNews.org, Kevin Richert. "Former lawmaker Durst files paperwork for state superintendent's run". Twin Falls Times-News. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  5. ↑ "Election Night Results".
  6. ↑ "About | Durst for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction". Durst for Idaho. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. 1 2 "Experience | Durst for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction". Durst for Idaho. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ↑ "About - Idaho Freedom". idahofreedom.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  9. ↑ "Idaho State Legislature - Senate Committees". Idaho Legislature. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  10. ↑ "Idaho State Legislature - EORAC Members". Idaho Legislature. Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  11. ↑ Education_idaho (2010-02-15). "Idaho Education News: New Bill Would Pilot Incentives for Early Grads". Idaho Education News. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  12. ↑ HANNAH FURFARO. "Odd couple lawmakers team up on education bills". Idaho Press. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  13. ↑ Richert, Kevin. "Durst resigning from state Senate" Idaho Statesman, November 20, 2013. (accessed 20 November 2013)
  14. ↑ "State senator splitting time, living in Idaho and Washington". ktvb.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  15. ↑ Berg, Sven. "Ward-Engelking to replace Branden Durst in Idaho Senate" Idaho Statesman, December 20, 2013. (accessed 23 December 2013)
  16. ↑ "2006 Primary Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  17. ↑ "2006 General Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  18. ↑ "2008 Primary Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  19. ↑ "2008 General Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  20. ↑ "2010 Primary Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  21. ↑ "2010 General Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  22. ↑ "2012 Primary Results legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  23. ↑ "2012 General Results Legislative". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  24. ↑ "Legislative District 29". results.vote.wa.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  25. ↑ "2018 Election Results". www.boiseschools.org. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  26. ↑ "Election Night Results". www.livevoterturnout.com.
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