Story perspectives

Idaho Lowers Flags After Former Governor Kempthorne Dies

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Idaho Governor Brad Little ordered state and U.S. flags to fly at half-staff after former governor Dirk Kempthorne died Friday night in Boise at age 74 from colon cancer complications.
Kempthorne served as Boise mayor, U.S. senator, Idaho governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2006 to 2009.
Governor Little, Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson and Kempthorne’s family each thanked Idaho residents and praised his decades of service.

History

Historical Context

Idaho’s practice of lowering flags for former governors stems from Cecil Andrus’s 1970 upset, when he defeated Republican Don Samuelson with 128,004 votes (52.2%) and began a 24-year run of Democratic leadership. After Andrus’s death on August 24 2017, the state again ordered half-staff for ex-governor Dirk Kempthorne, reinforcing a tradition that honors long-serving officials.

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Story summary

Idaho Governor Brad Little ordered state and U.S. flags to fly at half-staff after former governor Dirk Kempthorne died Friday night in Boise at age 74 from colon cancer complications.
Kempthorne served as Boise mayor, U.S. senator, Idaho governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2006 to 2009.
Governor Little, Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson and Kempthorne’s family each thanked Idaho residents and praised his decades of service.

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