Two District 30 Republican incumbents held off primary challenges May 19, with Sen. Julie VanOrden and Rep. Ben Fuhriman both securing their seats ahead of the November general election.

Incumbent Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, held off challenger Ethan Neff of Blackfoot by nearly 20 percentage points, winning the Republican primary for Idaho Senate District 30 on May 19.

VanOrden claimed 4,361 votes, or 59.44 percent, to Neff’s 2,976 votes, or 40.56 percent.

VanOrden has served in the Idaho Legislature since 2012 and chairs the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. She is seeking a fourth Senate term and comes from a farming background in Bingham County, championing agriculture, education funding and teacher pay during her time in the statehouse.

Neff, a Blackfoot resident, ran on a platform of Christian conservative values and constitutional governance, focusing his campaign on rural agricultural concerns, school funding reform and water policy.

VanOrden will face Democrat Joni Lin Sorenson in the November general election. District 30 covers Bingham and Butte counties.

Rep. Ben Fuhriman, R-Shelley, turned back former Rep. Julianne Young of Blackfoot on May 19, holding onto his seat in a rematch of one of Southeast Idaho’s closest legislative races in recent memory.

Fuhriman claimed 3,966 votes, or 53.65 percent, to Young’s 3,427 votes, or 46.35 percent.

Young previously served three terms in the Idaho House before a razor-thin loss two years ago. May 19’s contest marked the second straight primary in which the two have squared off for the same seat.

Fuhriman will face Democrat Bree Buckingham in the November general election.