Phil McGrane

Phil McGrane
28th Secretary of State of Idaho
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
GovernorBrad Little
Preceded byLawerence Denney
Personal details
BornPocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAngella
Children3
EducationUniversity of Washington (BA)
University of Denver (JD)
Boise State University (MPA)

Philip McGrane is an American politician from Idaho who is serving as the Secretary of State of Idaho. He previously served as the county clerk for Ada County, Idaho. He is a member of the Republican Party. As a candidate for secretary of state, McGrane stated that Joe Biden was the rightful winner of the 2020 United States presidential election, unlike his two main opponents in the primary.

Early life

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McGrane is from Boise, Idaho. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Washington. After graduating, he worked in philanthropy, including with Habitat for Humanity in Alabama. He returned to Boise in 2005 and began working for the Ada County elections office.[1]

McGrane attended the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law and worked as a law clerk for the Election Assistance Commission, an independent federal government agency, in 2010.[2][3] After he graduated from law school, he became chief deputy clerk for Ada County.[1] McGrane also earned a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University.[2]

Political career

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McGrane ran for secretary of state of Idaho in the 2014 elections, finishing in second place in the Republican primary election to Lawerence Denney, and ahead of state legislators Evan Frasure and Mitch Toryanski.[4] McGrane ran for county clerk in the 2018 election,[5] and won.[1]

In June 2021, McGrane announced his candidacy for secretary of state in the 2022 elections.[6] He faced state representative Dorothy Moon and state senator Mary Souza in the primary election. While Moon and Souza both endorsed Donald Trump's false allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election, McGrane acknowledged that Joe Biden was the rightful winner.[3][7] McGrane defeated Moon and Souza in the primary election, receiving 43 percent of the vote, while Moon received 41 percent and Souza received 16 percent.[8] McGrane faced the Democratic Party nominee, Shawn Keenan, a state committeeman for the Kootenai County Democrats, in the November general election.[9] McGrane received 72% of the vote, while Keenan received 28%.[10]

Personal life

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McGrane and his wife, Angella, live in Hidden Springs, Idaho, and have three children.[6] McGrane is a fan of Kansas City-style barbecue.[11] As a pitmaster, McGrane competes in barbecue competitions with his father-in-law, Lou Johnson, with "Phil & Lou BBQ".[12][13] In 2016, McGrane was inspired by his love of barbecue to introduce mobile voting inspired by food trucks to increase early voting.[11]

Electoral history

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Idaho Secretary of State Republican primary election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lawerence Denney 51,041 37.1%
Republican Phil McGrane 38,336 27.9%
Republican Evan Frasure 26,539 19.3%
Republican Mitch Toryanski 21,630 15.7%
Idaho Secretary of State Republican primary election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phil McGrane 113,894 43.0%
Republican Dorothy Moon 109,690 41.5%
Republican Mary Souza 41,057 15.5%

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Who's who in the GOP race to be Idaho's next secretary of state?". Idaho Capital Sun. April 20, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Russell, Betsy. "Eye on Boise: McGrane files paperwork for Secretary of State run". Idaho Press. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Conspiracies Swirl in Idaho Primary for Chief Election Official". Bolts Magazine. May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "Denney Moves Closer to Replacing Ysursa". Twin Falls Times-News. May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Phil McGrane to run for Ada County Clerk, replace Chris Rich". Idaho Statesman. November 3, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "McGrane launches secretary of state campaign in CDA | Coeur d'Alene Press". Coeur d'Alene Press. June 12, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Two of three Idaho GOP secretary of state candidates deny Biden won 2020 election". Idaho Capital Sun. April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "McGrane defeats Moon, Souza in race for state post". The Challis Messenger. May 18, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Ada County Clerk wins Republican nomination for Idaho secretary of state". Idaho Capital Sun. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "McGrane decisively wins Idaho Secretary of State race". November 9, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Barnhill, Frankie (October 29, 2016). "'Food Truck Voting' Aims To Attract Early Idaho Voters With Convenience : The Salt". NPR. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Aguilar, John (October 18, 2013). "Superior's 'Sultan of Swine' goes for nation's top BBQ prize –". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Teams compete Saturday for Idaho barbecue title". Idaho Press-Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Idaho
2023–present 		Incumbent
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