Luke Malek is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the

Idaho House of Representatives The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms. The state is divided into 35 districts, each of which elects two representatives to separate seats. ...

for the 4A district from 2012 to 2018.

Early life and education

Malek was raised in the

Idaho Panhandle The Idaho panhandle—locally known as North Idaho, Northern Idaho, or simply the Panhandle—is a salient region of the U.S. state of Idaho encompassing the state's 10 northernmost counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, ...

region. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the

College of Idaho The College of Idaho (C of I) is a private liberal arts college in Caldwell, Idaho. Founded in 1891 by Rev. William Judson Boone as a Presbyterian college, it is the state's oldest private liberal arts college and has an enrollment of over ...

and a

Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

from the

University of Idaho College of Law The University of Idaho College of Law is the law school of the University of Idaho. Its main location is in Moscow, and a second campus is in the state capital of Boise. As of the entering class of 2017–18, students may take all three years of ...

Career

In 2005, Malek worked as an intern in the office of Senator

Larry Craig Lawrence Edwin Craig (born July 20, 1945) is an American retired politician from the state of Idaho. A Republican, Craig represented Idaho in the United States Senate from 1991 to 2009 and represented Idaho's 1st District in the U.S. House of ...

, specializing in health policy. In 2005 and 2006, he was the communications director for the Dirne Community Health Center. In 2006 and 2007, he served as the North Idaho regional director for then-Governor

Jim Risch James Elroy Risch ( ; born May 3, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Idaho since 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he served as lieutenant governor of Idaho under governors ...

. In 2006 and 2007, he served as the executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency. From 2009 to 2011, he was an extern in the Office of the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney. He then served as a deputy prosecuting attorney until 2012. He also worked as the director of legal affairs and program development at Heritage Health. Since 2015, he has operated an independent legal practice. Malek was elected to the

in 2012 and served until 2018. During his tenure, he served as vice chair of the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee.

Elections

Idaho House of Representatives

2012

Malek defeated Jeff Ames with 65.5% of the vote in the Republican primary. Malek defeated Democratic nominee Janet Callen and Constitution Party nominee Ray J. Writz with 57.5% of the vote.

2014

Malek defeated Toby Schindelbeck with 52.7% of the vote (180 votes) in the Republican primary. Malek was unopposed in the general election.

2016

Malek defeated Art Macomber with 58.4% of the vote in the Republican primary. Malek defeated Democratic nominee Patrick P Mitchell with 68.8% of the vote.

2018 congressional campaign

On August 15, 2017, Malek declared his candidacy for

Idaho's 1st congressional district Idaho's 1st congressional district is one of two congressional districts in the U.S. state of Idaho. It comprises the western portion of the state. The 1st district is currently represented by Russ Fulcher, a Republican Party (United States), Re ...

in the 2018 election. In the Republican primary, Malek placed third after David H. Leroy and eventual winner

Russ Fulcher Russell Mark Fulcher (born March 9, 1962) is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the 21st district in the ...

; getting only 14.3% of the vote.

2022 lieutenant gubernatorial campaign

On November 13, 2020, Malek declared his candidacy for

lieutenant governor of Idaho The Lieutenant governor (United States), lieutenant governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the U.S. state of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the officeholder is elected to a four-year term. The current lieu ...

in the 2022 election. Just over a year later, on November 21, 2021, Malek dropped out of the race and endorsed fellow Republican,

Scott Bedke Scott Conrad Bedke (born April 27, 1958) is an American politician serving as the 44th lieutenant governor of Idaho since 2023. A Republican, he served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives for the 27A district. In December 2012, Bed ...

References

External links

Luke Malek
at the

Idaho Legislature The Idaho Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the 43rd State of Idaho and is bicameral, consisting of the upper chamber of the Idaho Senate and the lower chamber of the Idaho House of Representatives. The state of Idaho ...

Campaign site
* Place of birth missing (living people) College of Idaho alumni Living people Republican Party members of the Idaho House of Representatives Politicians from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho University of Idaho alumni Idaho lawyers 1981 births Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections 21st-century members of the Idaho Legislature {{Idaho-politician-stub