2016 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses

The 2016 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses took place on March 22 in the U.S. state of Idaho as one of the Democratic Party's primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

2016 Idaho Democratic presidential caucuses

March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22)

Candidate Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton Home state Vermont New York Delegate count 18 5 Popular vote 18,640 5,065 Percentage 78.04% 21.21%

Election results by county. Sanders   50 – 60%   60 – 70%   70 – 80%   80 – 90%   100% Clinton   50 – 60%

Voters convened in each of Idaho's 44 counties at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time/6 p.m Pacific Standard Time to proportionally allocate the state's 27 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

Campaigning

Both major candidates made efforts to either send surrogates or campaign themselves in Idaho before the caucuses took place. On March 17, Olympian Michelle Kwan campaigned for Hillary Clinton at Boise State University, where she spoke to about 150 supporters. On March 18, Bernie Sanders spoke at a local high school in Idaho Falls, Idaho drawing approximately 3,200 supporters. On March 21, the day before the Democratic caucuses, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke to approximately 7,000 supporters at the Taco Bell Arena on the campus of Boise State University.

Aftermath

The caucus was later regarded as having prepared the ground for the Paulette Jordan gubernatorial campaign two years later, inasmuch as it demonstrated the popularity of progressive policy proposals amongst the Idahoan left.

Opinion polling

See also: Statewide opinion polling for the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Poll source	Date	1st	2nd	Other
Caucus results	March 24, 2016	Bernie Sanders 78.04%	Hillary Clinton 21.21%	Other 0.75%
Dan Jones & Associates Margin of error: ± 4.0% Sample size: 601	February 17–26, 2016	Bernie Sanders 47%	Hillary Clinton 45%
Dan Jones & Associates Margin of error: ± 4.02% Sample size: 595	October 28 – November 4, 2015	Hillary Clinton 55%	Bernie Sanders 35%	Other candidates 4% Don't know 6%
Dan Jones & Associates Margin of error: ± 4% Sample size: 586	September 22–30, 2015	Hillary Clinton 38%	Bernie Sanders 36%	Joe Biden 16% Other/DK/NR 10%
Dan Jones & Associates Margin of error: ± ? Sample size: ?	Published August 9, 2015	Hillary Clinton 44%	Bernie Sanders 22%	Joe Biden 15% Other/DK/NR 19%
Idaho Politics Weekly Margin of error: ± ? Sample size: ?	June 17 – July 1, 2015	Hillary Clinton 19%	Bernie Sanders 12%	Joe Biden 10% Someone else 18% Don't know 32%

Results

See also: Results of the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries

 2016 Democratic Party's presidential nominating process in Idaho
– Summary of results –

Candidate	Popular vote		Estimated delegates
	Count	Percentage	Pledged	Unpledged	Total
Bernie Sanders	18,640	78.04%	18	2	20
Hillary Clinton	5,065	21.21%	5	1	6
Rocky De La Fuente	4	0.02%
Uncommitted	175	0.73%		1	1
Total	23,884	100%	23	4	27
Source:

Idaho Democratic Party 2016 Caucus State Delegate Election results April 1, 2016
Candidate	CD	Popular vote		State convention delegates
		Count	Percentage	Pledged	Unpledged	Total
Hillary Clinton	CD1	2,319	21.39%	45		45
	CD2	2,746	21.05%	41		41
	Total	5,065	21.21%	86		86
Bernie Sanders	CD1	8,454	78.00%	154		154
	CD2	10,186	78.08%	144		144
	Total	18,640	78.04%	298		298
Rocky De La Fuente	CD1	2	0.02%	0		0
	CD2	2	0.02%	0		0
	Total	4	0.02%	0		0
Uncommitted	CD1	64	0.59%	0		0
	CD2	111	0.85%	0		0
	Total	175	0.73%	0		0
Grand Total	CD1	10,839	100%	199		199
	CD2	13,045	100%	185		185
	Total	23,884	100%	384		384
Source: Idaho Democratic Party 2016 Caucus State Delegate Election results April 1, 2016

Gallery

• 
  Sen. Sanders speaks to a packed arena at Boise State University the day before the caucuses
• 
  A portion of the Bernie Sanders side at the Ada County caucus

Analysis

Sanders won Idaho by a four-to-one margin over Hillary Clinton, a similarly large landslide win that Barack Obama had enjoyed over Clinton in the Idaho caucuses eight years prior. In a majority white, rural, and ideologically libertarian electorate, Sanders had the upper hand. He won all counties but one on election day, carrying the major cities of Boise in Ada County, Pocatello in Bannock County, and Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. He was also bolstered by rural support from Southern Idaho to the Northern Panhandle, and in Central Idaho including Treasure Valley. Such regions are among the most remote and radically conservative areas of the country.

The Ada County caucus, held at CenturyLink Arena, which was the largest caucus in U.S. history, easily broke the 2008 record, with many voters waiting in line for three or four hours in brisk wind chill. The mile-long line stretched for several city blocks; more than 9,100 voters participated in what was called a "massive" turnout, especially given Idaho's status as a Republican stronghold.

Sanders won 78.0% of the vote statewide; only his home state of Vermont, Alaska, and Utah have given him a wider margin of victory.