Branden Durst


Branden John Durst is a former center-right, pro-life, Democratic politician from Boise, Idaho. He was born in Boise, Idaho. Durst represented Idaho's 18th Legislative District in the Idaho Senate from 2012 to 2013. He previously represented Idaho's 18th Legislative District in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010. Until his December 2013 resignation he was the youngest member of the Idaho Senate. Durst lives in Boise, Idaho.

Early Life, Personal Life, and Career

Durst was born at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise, Idaho in 1980. He grew up in south Boise and attended public schools and was a third generation graduate of Boise High School. Durst was involved in club soccer, baseball, wrestling, DECA, Young Life, and assorted church activities.
Durst attended Pacific Lutheran University as undergraduate. Durst was awarded a scholarship for speech and debate in which he won several individual and team awards. While attending PLU, Durst was hired by the Washington State Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division. He also served as a policy intern for the American Counseling Association in Alexandria, Virginia. Academically, he earned a bachelor or arts degree in political science and a minor in communication.
After graduating from PLU, Durst attended graduate school at Kent State University and Claremont Graduate University where he studied public policy analysis and international political economy, respectively. He returned to Boise, and subsequently enrolled at Boise State University where he earned a Master of Public Administration degree. While enrolled at BSU, Durst earned an academic scholarship from the Department of Public Policy and Administration and a research assistantship from the Department of Economics.
Durst is married and has two sons and a daughter. Professionally Durst works as a coach and consultant. He is an Evangelical Christian and attends Cloverdale Church of God in Boise.

Committees

In the Idaho Senate Durst served as a member of the following committees:
Durst was also a member of the joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee.

Elections

2006

Durst first ran for the Idaho Legislature in 2006 when he challenged then six-term incumbent Debbie Field. Field had also taken on the responsibility of serving as campaign manager for the gubernatorial campaign of C. L. "Butch" Otter. Durst won the race by a slim 176-vote margin.

2008

In 2008, Durst had become one of the top targets of the Idaho Republican Party. This prompted five-term legislator Julie Ellsworth to challenge Durst. Ellsworth, who had lost in 2006 to Democrat Phylis King. Durst defeated Ellsworth by a 51/49 margin.

2010

In 2010, Durst ran for the open seat in the Idaho Senate in his southeast Boise district vacated by Kate Kelly, but lost to Republican Mitch Toryanski by 103 votes. Fellow Democrat Janie Ward-Engelking ran for Durst's House seat, but lost by a nine-vote margin to Ellsworth.

2012

In January 2012 Durst announced his intention to run against Toryanski again. Durst defeated Matthew Duncan in the Democratic primary with 77.1% of the vote.
He defeated Toryanski with 53.5% of the vote in the general election.

2016

Durst challenged incumbent David Sawyer of District 29 position 1; he lost with 23.7% of the vote. Abuse and harassment claims came up and played a role in the campaign.

2018

Durst ran for Boise School District trustee but was not in the top 3 thus noting getting a seat on the Boise School Board.

Resignation

On November 20, 2013, Durst submitted his resignation from the Idaho Senate effective December 1, 2013, to Gov. Butch Otter. It was found out that Durst was splitting his time between Boise and the Seattle area, where his family had relocated. He was succeeded by Ward-Engelking.