KSAWTV.COM | Twin Falls News, Breaking News, Weather and Sports-Roberts Drops Out of Congressional Race
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Following speculation over the past few days, House Majority Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts (R-Donnelly) officially announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing from the race for the First District congressional seat.
In a news release, Roberts stated, “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.”
“In traveling this state, enjoying honest conversation with new friends and old, visiting Washington and taking a realistic view of the state of politics in our nation’s capitol, it is evident I have carried the conservative banner as far as I was able.”
“I believe Idaho still needs a strong conservative candidate to run for this position. I’ve been approached by two individuals who have expressed a strong interest picking up that banner. I now feel I can responsibly withdraw from the campaign, knowing that one of them will continue to defend our cherished principles.”
“I would like to thank all my supporters and all the volunteers who helped with the campaign.”
This comes on the heels of an announcement Monday that Roberts’ campaign manager also submitted his resignation. In a written statement sent to the media, Kevin McGowan said, “On October 23rd, I told Ken Roberts that I would be resigning as Campaign Manager from the Ken Roberts for Congress campaign. I said that I would support him until he was ready to manage the campaign without me. Ken accepted my resignation on November 5th …”
Roberts told the Idaho Statesman he heard speculation that former Republican Congressman Bill Sali may run again, after losing last year to Democrat Walt Minnick. That news, according to the paper, reportedly threw the campaign “for a loop,” which had been struggling to raise funds.
