Rep. Julianne Young's narrow defeat in the Republican primary in May was confirmed in a recount. The three-term Republican from Blackfoot lost the election for Seat B in the 30th Congressional District by four votes.

Challenger Ben Fuhriman received 3,764 votes to 3,760 for Young, according to a news release from the Idaho Secretary of State's office. Fuhriman's victory increased from the official election result, which gave him a two-vote lead in the district, which includes Butte and Bingham counties. Fuhriman will face Democrat Breane Buckingham in November.

Young called for a recount after the narrow margin allowed for a free recount.

The small shift in results after the recount was the third reversal of the election result after an error in Butte County on Election Day shifted a 10-vote lead to a two-vote result, the Secretary of State's office previously said in a news release. The two-vote lead was the official vote count before the recount, which resulted in another two vote shifts in Butte County.

Fuhriman's victory was widely seen as an exception to an electoral trend that is likely to put several far-right lawmakers in office after those candidates appeared to win five House seats in battles against more traditional opponents. Fuhriman's platform was more moderate than Young's. She sponsored a bill this year to restrict access to medical treatment for transgender or nonbinary people, which became law.

In a statement to the Idaho Statesman, Fuhriman noted that his victory was one of the closest in Idaho history.

“I look forward to serving the people of the 30th District in the Idaho House of Representatives and am deeply honored by their trust and support,” he said.

Young told the Statesman via email that she appreciated the “professional manner” of the recount, which “clarified all questions.”

“It has been a privilege to successfully implement essential public policies for the state of Idaho to protect our families, access to mental health care and private property rights,” she said. “I wish my opponent the best in his term in office and promise to continue to stand by him in other capacities wherever I stand.”

Young added that her father, Dr. Richard Hill, died this month and his funeral was held in Blackfoot over the weekend.

“While I will miss serving the good people of my district, I wouldn't trade the weeks I spent in the hospital with my father during election season for anything,” she said.

Secretary of State Phil McGrane said in a press release that the certified results “reaffirmed that Idaho's elections are fair, secure and transparent.”