Donnelly businessman Hugh Somerton and Sweet farmer Kathy Skippen filed Thursday to vie in next month's Democratic primary for the right to challenge Rep. Twila Hornbeck, a Grangeville Republican.
Somerton, 63, who owns a real estate and insurance business, has never run for office before.
Skippen, 45, is an Emmett School Board member who works on the family farm. A year and a half ago, she lost to Hornbeck by 1,705 votes in a legislative district that covers Adams, Boise, Gem, Idaho and Valley counties.
Neither Skippen nor Somerton could be reached for comment Thursday.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Mader, a Lewiston Republican, confirmed Thursday he would support University of Idaho student Daniel Whiting's bid to defeat Sen. Gary Schroeder, chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
"Dan and I have become very good friends over the last three to four years,'' Mader said. "I do think he would be a good candidate. I have just gotten to know Dan so well over the years that I think he would do a good job.''
Whiting will take on Schroeder, a Moscow Republican, in the May 28 primary. The winner will face University of Idaho geography professor Sam Scripter, a Moscow Democrat, in the November general election.
Today is the last day for legislative candidates to file to run for office.
