{{short description|American politician from Idaho}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Branden Durst |state_senate = Idaho |district = 18th |term_start = December 1, 2012 |term_end = December 1, 2013 |predecessor = Mitch Toryanski |successor = Janie Ward-Engelking |state_house1 = Idaho |district1 = 18A |term_start1 = December 1, 2006 |term_end1 = December 1, 2010 |predecessor1 = Debbie Field |successor1 = Julie Ellsworth |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|15}} |birth_place = Boise, Idaho, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic (Before 2016)<br />Republican (2016–present) |spouse = <!-- MUST be sourced per WP:BLP --> |children = <!-- MUST be sourced per WP:BLP --> |education = Pacific Lutheran University (BA)<br />Kent State University<br />Claremont Graduate University<br />Boise State University (MPA, EdS) |website = {{URL|durstforidaho.com|Campaign website}} |image = }} '''Branden John Durst''' (born January 15, 1980) is a former politician from Boise, Idaho. Durst represented Idaho's 18th Legislative District in the Idaho House of Representative from 2006 to 2010, and in the Idaho Senate from 2012 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adademocrats.org/index.php/State-Representatives/branden-durst.html|title=Branden Durst|publisher=ADA County Democrats|accessdate=12 October 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724223651/http://www.adademocrats.org/index.php/State-Representatives/branden-durst.html|archivedate=24 July 2011}}</ref> He was the youngest member of the Idaho Senate.<ref name="bw">Prentice, George. [http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/branden-durst/Content?oid=2795921 "Branden Durst 'If you look at the Democratic Senate Caucus, we're stronger than we were before.'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330005932/https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/branden-durst/Content?oid=2795921 |date=2019-03-30 }} ''Boise Weekly'', January 9, 2013. (accessed 20 August 2013)</ref> Durst switched parties in 2016 and registered as a Republican as of November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=Durst files paperwork for state superintendent’s run |url=https://www.idahoednews.org/kevins-blog/durst-files-paperwork-for-state-superintendents-run/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Idaho Education News |language=en-US}}</ref> Durst announced in January 2021 that he would be a Republican candidate for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction.<ref>{{Cite web|last=IdahoEdNews.org|first=Kevin Richert|title=Former lawmaker Durst files paperwork for state superintendent's run|url=https://magicvalley.com/news/local/education/former-lawmaker-durst-files-paperwork-for-state-superintendent-s-run/article_6eb92566-e85d-5d9a-b763-8674bf520509.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Twin Falls Times-News|language=en}}</ref> He ultimately placed second in the primary, earning about 34% of the vote (around 90,000 votes).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/Idaho/LiveResults/1/en/Index_122.html | title=Election Night Results }}</ref>
== Personal life == Durst was born in Boise, Idaho in 1980. He grew up in south Ada County and attended public schools and was a third generation graduate of Boise High School.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About {{!}} Durst for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction|url=https://www.durstforidaho.com/about|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Durst for Idaho|language=en}}</ref>
Durst attended Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) as undergraduate where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a minor in communication.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=Experience {{!}} Durst for Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction|url=https://www.durstforidaho.com/experience|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Durst for Idaho|language=en}}</ref>
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 (BSU) 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.<ref name="auto"/> In May 2022, Durst earned an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Executive Educational Leadership, also from BSU.
Durst is married to his wife, Cheri and has four sons and a daughter.
==Idaho Legislature== In the Idaho Senate, Durst served as a member of the following committees:<ref name="committee">{{cite web |url=http://legislature.idaho.gov/senate/committees.cfm |title=Idaho State Legislature - Senate Committees |publisher=Idaho Legislature |accessdate=2013-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818123255/http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/senate/committees.cfm# |archive-date=2013-08-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Agricultural Affairs * Commerce and Human Resources * Education
Durst was also a member of the joint Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee (EORAC).<ref name="eorac">{{cite web |url=http://legislature.idaho.gov/budget/EORAC/eoracmembers.cfm |title=Idaho State Legislature - EORAC Members |publisher=Idaho Legislature |accessdate=2013-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914084736/http://legislature.idaho.gov/budget/EORAC/eoracmembers.cfm |archive-date=2013-09-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, Durst wrote the first law creating the Advanced Opportunities program along with legislative colleague Steven Thayn.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Education_idaho|date=2010-02-15|title=Idaho Education News: New Bill Would Pilot Incentives for Early Grads|url=https://educationidaho.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-bill-would-pilot-incentives-for.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Idaho Education News}}</ref> Durst and Thayn wrote additional legislation expanding the program further while members of the state senate.<ref>{{Cite web|author=HANNAH FURFARO|agency=Associated Press|title=Odd couple lawmakers team up on education bills|url=https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/odd-couple-lawmakers-team-up-on-education-bills/article_ae09fe5a-0ee8-5d17-b580-1f3dbf59c3ee.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Idaho Press|language=en}}</ref>
On November 20, 2013, Durst submitted his resignation from the Idaho Senate effective December 1, 2013, to Gov. Butch Otter. It was alleged by the press, but never verified, that Durst was splitting his time between Boise and the Seattle area, where his family had relocated.<ref name="statesmanresign">Richert, Kevin. [http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/durst-resigning-from-state-senate/ "Durst resigning from state Senate"] ''Idaho Statesman'', November 20, 2013. (accessed 20 November 2013)</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=State senator splitting time, living in Idaho and Washington |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/state-senator-splitting-time-living-in-idaho-and-washington/277-325849369 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=ktvb.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was succeeded by Janie Ward-Engelking.<ref name=wardappoint>Berg, Sven. [http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/ward-engelking-appointed-to-replace-branden-durst-in-idaho-senate/ "Ward-Engelking to replace Branden Durst in Idaho Senate"] ''Idaho Statesman'', December 20, 2013. (accessed 23 December 2013)</ref>
==Elections== {| class="wikitable" |+'''District 18 House Seat A''' - Ada County !Year ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! |- |2006 Primary |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 Primary Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2006/Primary/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |911 |100% | | | | | | | | | |- |2006 General |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 General Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2006/General/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |6,664 |48.6% | |Debbie Field (incumbent) |6,489 |47.4 | |James Oyler |550 |4.0% | |- |2008 Primary |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2008 Primary Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2008/Primary/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst (incumbent)''' |1,283 |100% | | | | | | | | | |- |2008 General |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2008 General Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2008/General/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst (incumbent)''' |9,653 |51.1% | |Julie Ellsworth |9,222 |48.9% | | | | | |} {| class="wikitable" |+'''District 18 Senate''' - Ada County !Year ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! |- |2010 Primary |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2010 Primary Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2010/Primary/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |745 |100% | | | | | | | | | |- |2010 General |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2010 General Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2010/General/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |6,352 |49.6% | |Mitch Toryanski |6,455 |50.4% | | | | | |- |2012 Primary |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2012 Primary Results legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2012/Primary/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |1,078 |77.1% | |Matthew Duncan |321 |22.9% | | | | | |- |2012 General |<ref>{{Cite web|title=2012 General Results Legislative|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2012/General/tot_leg.htm|access-date=2021-02-02|website=sos.idaho.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |11,292 |53.5% | |Mitch Toryanski (incumbent) |9,796 |46.5% | | | | |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="13" |District 29, Position 1 - Pierce County in Washington |- !Year ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct ! !Candidate !Votes !Pct |- |2016 Primary |<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legislative District 29|url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20160802/legislativedistrict29.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> |'''Branden Durst''' |3,614 |23.7% | |David Sawyer (incumbent) |6,252 |41% | |Rick Thomas |5,381 |35.29% |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" |2018 Boise School District Trustee (Vote for Three)<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Election Results|url=https://www.boiseschools.org/our_district/2018_trustee_election/2018_election_results|access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.boiseschools.org|language=en-US}}</ref> |- !Candidate !Votes !Pct |- |'''Branden Durst''' |567 |4.9% |- |Alicia Estey |3,519 |30.41% |- |Shari Fernandez |810 |7.0% |- |Maria Greeley (incumbent) |3,252 |28.10% |- |Troy Rohn (incumbent) |3,124 |27.0% |- |James Tooman |300 |2.59% |}
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" |2022 Idaho Republican Primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livevoterturnout.com/Idaho/LiveResults/1/en/Index_122.html|title=Election Night Results|website=www.livevoterturnout.com}}</ref> |- !Candidate !Votes !Pct |- |Debbie Critchfield |104,592 |39.61% |- |'''Branden Durst''' |89,288 |33.81% |- |Sherri Ybarra |70,184 |26.58% |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Durst, Branden J.}} Category:1980 births Category:Boise State University alumni Category:Republican Party members of the Idaho House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:Idaho state senators Category:Pacific Lutheran University alumni Category:Politicians from Boise, Idaho Category:Democratic Party members of the Idaho House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Idaho Legislature Category:Boise High School alumni