Lt. Gov. McGeachin announces run for Idaho governor

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin is running for governor.

The 58-year-old Republican lieutenant governor announced the decision Wednesday at a news conference in Idaho Falls with additional news conferences planned later in the day in Boise and Coeur d'Alene.

McGeachin, a businesswoman from Idaho Falls, served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2002 to 2012.

She has fought Republican Gov. Brad Little's coronavirus pandemic restrictions even when COVID-19 patients threatened to overwhelm the state's healthcare system.

She drew criticism in 2019 for posing with members of an antigovernment group in the Statehouse.

Below is a statement from the Idaho Education Association regarding the announcement:

The announcement today by Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin that she will be running for governor should be met with great distrust by all who support Idaho public schools, students, and professional educators. She does not and will not prioritize policies that benefit public education. In fact, there is no ambiguity in her track record—she consistently attempts to undermine education funding and degrade our dedicated educators. Public education is the pathway to success and opportunity for children across our great state. McGeachin as governor would represent a huge step backward for Idaho students and public schools. 

Layne McInellyPresident, Idaho Education Association