Idaho GOP state convention elects first all-female executive committee

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - As the dust settled at the 2026 Idaho GOP State Convention, an all women executive committee was elected for chair, first and second vice chairs, treasurer, and secretary. With Dorothy Moon, Viki Purdy, Julianne Young, Sandra Eaton, and Carla Mattare, respectively.

Dorothy Moon, who was re-elected for state chair, became the first to win a third term since Dennis Olsen in the early 1980s. Beating out her challengers, incumbent first vice chair Mark Fuller, and former state senator Steven Thayn, with just enough of a vote percentage to avoid a run-off.

• Per party rules, the winning candidate needs a majority of the votes (at least 51%). Moon had 306 votes, which was 51.4%, preventing a run-off election, which declares her the winner.

"You know, I'm absolutely thrilled that the Republican base has confidence in the work that we've been doing in the office over the years," Moon said about her win. "A second term is over with, and third one is getting ready to start. And this abortion initiative is huge, and we're looking forward to taking it down."

With all five elected officers being women, it creates a unique dynamic for the GOP's fight against the abortion initiative.

What is the Abortion Initiative?

The Idaho Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act Initiative is a citizen-led ballot initiative, which gathered signatures from around the state to get the act on the ballot for the 2026 elections.

One of the provisions would make abortion legal up to the point of fetal viability.

The GOP believes this initiative is too extreme.

"Folks need to know that this initiative is extreme," Julianne Young stated. "It is a pro abortion at any time initiative, but it is actually bigger than abortion... It goes beyond what to legally protect anyone who helps someone access that reproductive health care. So there are huge concerns with this initiative."