Editing Mike Simpson (section)

==== 1998 ====
Simpson entered the 1998 campaign for the U.S. House seat vacated by [[Mike Crapo]], who was running for [[United States Senate]]. He defeated former [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] congressman [[Richard H. Stallings]], who held the seat from 1985 to 1993, in the general election with 52% of the vote. He has never faced another contest that close; Stallings was the last Democrat to win even 40% of the vote.

Simpson did not face serious opposition in 2000, 2002, or 2004. In 2006, Simpson defeated former Democratic [[Idaho House of Representatives|state representative]] [[Jim D. Hansen]], son of former Republican congressman [[Orval H. Hansen]], with 61% of the vote.