Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch defeated a crowded field for the Republican nomination, while former Congressman Larry LaRocco won the Democratic nomination in similar fashion. Conservative independents Rex Rammell and Pro-Life (formerly Marvin Richardson) also qualified for the general election ballot.
In the Republican primary, Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch triumphed over a multitude of opponents to claim the party's nomination, while former Congressman Larry LaRocco secured the Democratic nomination through a comparable process. Furthermore, conservative independent Rex Rammell and Pro-Life candidate Marvin Richardson also gained entry into the general election.