American politician and rancher Carl Crabtree represented Idaho’s 7th district in the Senate from 2016 to 2022. His death occurred on May 6, 2025.
Crabtree graduated from Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia despite growing up on a ranch. Crabtree earned a BS in plant science from Idaho State in 1974.
Career: Crabtree was an Idaho rancher. He retired in 2015 after managing Idaho County’s 4-H program, extension education, and weed control since 1974. His livestock production continued as president of the Idaho Livestock Association from 1991 to 1992 and Idaho Beef Council chairman from 2001 to 2002.
Carl Crabtree Obituary : His Biography and Legal Legacy
In the 2016 Republican primary for senator, Crabtree challenged eight-year incumbent Sheryl Nuxoll. When Nuxoll and two other senators declined to stand for a visiting Hindu chaplain’s prayer in 2015, calling Hinduism “a false faith with falsehood,” the episode gained national attention Crabtree, who narrowly defeated Nuxoll for the Republican nomination, defeated retired Sagle veterinary medicine professor Ken Meyers in the primary election.
Cindy Carlson beat Crabtree in the 2022 GOP primary. He later worked in intergovernmental relations for the Idaho State Department of Education.
My life
Carolyn was Crabtree’s wife. In Grangeville, Idaho, Crabtree lived. He died from brain cancer complications on May 6, 2025, after defeating esophageal cancer in 2022.
Honoring Carl Crabtree
In moments like these, we feel the loss deeply. Carl Crabtree had a profound impact on many lives.
If you have any memories or thoughts to share, please feel free to leave a comment below. Let’s come together to remember and celebrate his life.
@betoorourke.bsky.social he supported students and public schools despite being a Republican. rip Carl Crabtreeidahocapitalsun.com/2025/05/07/f…@cameronkasky.bsky.social
— UNITE AMERICA PROJECT! (@anwarovic.bsky.social) 2025-05-07T22:23:43.467Z
Leave a Reply