In 1976 , Church belatedly sought the Democratic nomination for president and announced his candidacy on March 18 from rustic Idaho City , his father 's birthplace . Although he won primaries in Nebraska , Idaho , Oregon , and Montana , he withdrew in favor of the eventual nominee , former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter . Church remains the only Idahoan to win a major-party presidential primary election following the reforms of the McGovern – Fraser Commission . Prior to the primary elections of 1972 , William Borah had won several contests in the 1936 Republican primaries
Democratic nomination
1976 Democratic National Convention
Frank Church