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Idaho
Governor
| IDAHO |
Nov. 8,
2022 Governor
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Plurality: 238,438 votes (40.32 percentage points). ID
Secretary of State
Notes: Gov. Brad Little (R) won a second term, defeating four challengers on the November ballot: Stephen Heidt (D), an ESL instructor from Marsing, Ammon Bundy (I), a controversial activist from Emmett, Paul Sand (L), a retired computer software engineer from White Bird, and Chantyrose Davison (C), a mother of two, also from Marsing. Little declined to participate in debates during both the primary and the general election campaigns. Republicans easily won all statewide races. Bundy achieved the second strongest showing by an independent candidate for governor in the 2022 cycle. The last time a Democrat was elected was Cecil Andrus in 1990. May 17 Primaries [primary literature] LIttle won the May 17 primary with 52.8% of the vote, defeating Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (32.2%), financial advisor Edward R. Humphreys (11.0%) and five others. Little touted a list of accomplishments starting with his work cutting and reducing regulations to make Idaho the least regulated state. He also pointed to job creation, increases in education funding, tax cuts, and a budget surplus. At the same time, however, Little did draw criticism from the right for measures taken to address the COVID pandemic. Prior to being elected governor, Little served as lieutenant governor from 2009-2019, and eight years as a state Senator. McGeachin announced her candidacy on May 20, 2021 (>). A business owner in Idaho Falls and former state representative (2002-12) she was elected lieutenant governor in 2018. McGeachin attracted national attention for sparring with Little over COVID policies. On May 27, while Little was away at the Republican Governors Association conference, she signed an executive order banning mask mandates in Idaho. Little rescinded McGeachin's order the next day, noting that he opposed a statewide mask mandate and denouncing the move as "an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt" and "an abuse of power (+)." On Oct. 5, McGeachin again issued an executive order, this time on vaccine passports, which Little promptly reversed upon his return. On Nov. 9 former President Trump endorsed McGeachin as "a true supporter of MAGA since the very beginning." McGeachin was sharply criticized for videotaped speech she made to the extreme right America First Political Action Conference in late Feb. 2022. In the Democratic primary, Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad announced his candidacy on Nov. 8, 2021, warning against extremism in the Republican Party (>). With the backing of former U.S. Rep. Larry LaRocco and 2014 and 2018 gubernatorial nominee A.J. Balukoff, Rognstad looked well positioned to become the nominee. However, in March 2022 the Secretary of State's office ruled that Rognstad would not appear on the May 17 ballot because he was affiliated with the Republican Party at the time he filed to run in the Democratic primary. Rognstad mounted a write-in campaign, but only managed to get about 20% of the vote. Heidt, the only candidate on the ballot, won 80%. The Bundy Candidacy Bundy, frequently described as an "anti-government militant," has attracted considerable notoriety for his run-ins with government. He is one of 14 children of Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a high-profile 2014 standoff over grazing rights in Nevada. In 2016 Ammon Bundy led occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. He established the People's Rights Network in 2020. Bundy has been arrested multiple times at the Idaho State Capitol in 2020 and 2021, including for protesting COVID regulations. He states that he is not "anti-government" but opposes "government overreach and open, plain and obvious corruption" and argues that his actions have been distorted by lies in the media. Bundy announced as a Republican candidate for governor on June 19, 2021 in Meridian (>). On Feb. 27, 2022, he switched to running as an independent (+). Bundy has issued a detailed "Keep Idaho IDAHO" plan which, among other provisions, calls for ending property taxes and the personal income tax and instituting a consumption tax of 2-4%; taking back federal land; and signing an executive order to end abortions. He is running a professional campaign and could attract considerable support. Campaign Managers: Brad Little: Hayden Rogers (June 2021) Special assistant for intergovernmental affairs to Gov. Little, Apr. 2019-June 2021. Government affairs at Risch Pisca PLLC, Jan.-Apr. 2019. Field director on Brad Little for Governor, Jan. 2018-Jan. 2019. Bachelor's degree in American government and politics from Boise State University. Stephen Heidt: senior advisor Michelle Vincent Chair of the Elmore County Democratic Party. Ammon Bundy: Wendy Leatham See also: Betsy Z. Russell. "Dem race for governor takes unexpected twist." Idaho Press, Apr. 16, 2022. Keith Ridler. "Idaho governor declines debates ahead of Republican primary." Associated Press, Apr. 16, 2022. Zach Hagadone. "Citing filing error, secretary of state leaves Rognstad of May primary ballot." Sandpoint Reader, Mar. 16, 2022. Ximena Bustillo and Marc Caputo. "Coronavirus restrictions spark mutiny against GOP governor." Politico, June 11, 2021. Staff. "With Gov. Little out of state, McGeachin bans mask mandates in Idaho." IDEdNews, May 27, 2021. William Danvers. "The Passionate Intensity of Ammon Bundy and the People's Rights Movement." Just Security, May 25, 2021. Betsy Z. Russell. "Gov. Janice McGeachin launches bid for governor challenging incumbent Gov. Little." Idaho Press, May 20, 2021. |
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