Roberts exits, Labrador enters Idaho House race

 

BOISE -- State Rep. Ken Roberts has withdrawn from the 2010 1st Congressional District Republican primary.

Almost immediately, state Rep. Raul Labrador, a Republican from Eagle, jumped into the race for the seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick.

Roberts, the Idaho House GOP majority caucus chairman, says he's dealing with an unexpected health issue that has hampered his run.

He trailed GOP rival Vaughn Ward in fundraising for the May primary.

He'd brought in $54,920, in addition to a $7,000 personal loan, between July and September; Ward had collected twice that amount from contributors during the period.

Roberts says he's spoken with at least two people who plan to run on a campaign platform of conservative values for the seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick.

In a release, Roberts said, "It is with great reluctance that I withdraw from the race for the 1st District congressional seat of this great state.  For the past several days, I have been dealing with an unexpected health issue that has affected my candidacy and hampered my ability to make this run.  I feel that it is my responsibility to my family to step out of the race at this time and concentrate on my health.”