The Republican Party is reacting to reports that journalists will not be permitted to go inside any of the 210 caucus locations on March 2.
Several outlets, including the Idaho Capitol Sun, published stories with headlines to the effect of “Idaho GOP won’t allow news media inside upcoming Republican presidential caucus.” The Sun further added that the Republican Party’s chairman, Dorothy Moon, decision “to block press access … betrays the presumption of openness that inheres in our democracy.”
The outlet contends that keeping members of the media from observing the tabulation process has raised concerns among transparency advocates.
“As we approach the March 2nd Presidential Preference Caucus the amount of misinformation being generated by the media and talking heads is stunning,” Brent Regan, IDGOP’s Rules Chairman, said in a statement on Feb.15. “At the Republican Party headquarters literally half the staff’s time is being consumed correcting this misinformation.”
Regan said the accusation that the party was keeping reporters from the caucus occasions “borders on journalistic malpractice.”
“Chairman Moon is simply following the rules set forth by the 225 members of the Republican State Central Committee,” he wrote. “Also, balloting REQUIRES a degree of secrecy to preserve the voter’s privacy and prevent intimidation by bad actors, including members of the media.”
Under the state party’s rules, only eligible voters and their children under the age of 18 can be admitted to a caucus.
Regan continued:Just because random members of the media are not allowed inside the caucus location does not mean the tabulation is done in secret. Again, state party rules specify that “Each candidate or their designee may observe the tabulating process.”
Tabulation is done by at least two tabulators who shall be appointed by vote by the assembly at each of the 210 caucus locations. Results will be announced by the Caucus Captain to the witnesses and any voters who want to stay and watch the counting. The results will then be transmitted to IDGOP headquarters by both the Caucus Captain and the Caucus Coordinator.
“The freedom of the press comes with a responsibility to the truth; to present the unbiased facts free of speculation so that the citizen can be better informed. Sadly, we are far away from that condition,” he concluded. “Democracy demands the rational evaluation of candidates based on fact. For members of the media to try to tip the scales of that evaluation with biased reporting is the true threat to democracy.”
The March primary is the first time in 12 years that Idaho’s Republican Party will hold a caucus rather than a primary. Former President Donald Trump won the Idaho primary in 2020 as the incumbent. Texas Senator Ted Cruz carried the state during the 2016 primary.
Trump won Idaho during the general election in 2016 as well as 2020, securing the state’s four electoral votes each election.
