Before becoming governor, Batt had been a Republican politician in Idaho for thirty years, serving in the state legislature (house 1965–1967, state senate 1967–1979),[7] and as the 35th lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1983.[8] He ran for governor in 1982 and was defeated in a close race by the Democratic incumbent, John Evans. The election was so close that at least one television network declared Batt the winner on election night.[9][10]
Batt returned to the state senate with victories in 1984[11] and 1986, then resigned in the spring of 1988 to sit on the three-member state transportation board, appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus.[12]
Idaho Republican Party
Batt was elected chairman of the Idaho Republican Party in January 1991,[13] and after a successful two years, he stepped aside in April 1993 to re-enter electoral politics in 1994.[14] Batt had previously run for the post in 1968 and lost to Roland Wilber, 127 to 218.[15]
Governor
Batt won the Republican gubernatorial primary in 1994 with 48% of the vote, and defeated state attorney generalLarry Echo Hawk in the general election 52% to 44%,[16] for the first GOP victory for governor in 28 years.[17] Despite high popularity, he chose to serve only one term, citing his age, and left office at age 71.[18] Among Batt's more notable accomplishments as governor was pushing through worker's compensation for agricultural workers and negotiating a pact limiting nuclear waste storage in Idaho.[18]
Later career
Batt was one of Idaho's presidential electors for George W. Bush during the 2000 United States presidential election.[19] Batt self-published two books after leaving office, a memoir titled The Compleat Phil Batt: A Kaleidoscope in 1999, and a compilation of humorous stories, Life as a Geezer, in 2003. Batt, who has a gay grandson who lives out of state, supported Add The Words.[20]
Personal life
On January 9, 1948, in Potlatch, Idaho, Batt eloped with Jacque Fallis of Spokane,[21] a member of the Delta Delta Deltasorority.[22] The newlyweds had to leave school a month later when Batt's 66-year-old father was involved in a serious automobile accident which left him with limited strength and speech. Though the young Batts initially hoped to return to college, economic circumstances changed their plans and they reluctantly did not.[23]
Jacque Batt died on September 7, 2014, after 66 years of marriage.[24] In 2015, at age 88, Batt married Francee Riley of Boise.[25] Batt died on March 4, 2023, the morning of his 96th birthday.[2]
