Risch wins reelection in Idaho

Sen. Jim Risch (R), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is projected to win reelection in Idaho on Tuesday.

The Associated Press called the race at 11 p.m. EST.

He beat out Democratic challenger Paulette Jordan. Risch, 77, was favored to win the Senate contest in heavily-Republican Idaho, which has not sent a Democrat to Congress since the mid-1970s.

This will be the third term for the senator, who was first elected to the Senate in 2008. Idaho’s other senator is Republican Mike Crapo, who will next be up for election in 2022.

Many of Risch’s endorsements came from conservative, small business, fiscally conservative and religious organizations that promote U.S. support for Israel and advocate pro-life and anti-abortion policies.

In addition to serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations panel in the 116th Congress, Risch was also part of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Senate Select Committee on Ethics; Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.