Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little easily wins second term

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little won a second term on Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Republican governor who shepherded the state through the COVID-19 pandemic easily turned aside challenges from Democratic candidate Stephen Heidt and Independent candidate and antigovernment activist Ammon Bundy in the deeply conservative state.

Little irritated some members of his own party with a temporary emergency shutdown in 2020 to slow the spread of the pandemic in Idaho and reduce deaths, and allowed local jurisdictions to decide on mask mandates.

But the pandemic has been followed in Idaho by a rebound to pre-pandemic low levels of unemployment and record surpluses that have resulted in massive tax cuts.

Little ignored Heidt and Bundy leading up to the election, declining to debate. He instead focused his attacks on President Joe Biden and made border security and inflation a priority. He also touted the record tax cuts, red tape reduction measures and big boosts in education spending.

Heidt’s campaign was notable for a low-key effort with little spending for a major-party candidate, raising only a small fraction of what Little drew in donations. Heidt said he wanted to decriminalize cannabis

Bundy started out vying in the Republican primary but switched over to Independent before the May primary election. He is well-known for participating in armed standoffs with law enforcement, notably at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016, which left one man dead, and on federal land near his family’s ranch in Nevada in 2014.

Bundy has also been convicted twice of trespassing at the Idaho Statehouse, and for a time was banned from the building. He has said he would rely heavily on executive orders to govern.

Libertarian Paul Sand and Constitution Party nominee Chantyrose Davison were also on the ballot.

Idaho’s Republican primary is considered the election where most races are decided in a state where Republicans hold all statewide elected offices and where Republicans have supermajorities in the Legislature.

Little also declined to debate in the Republican gubernatorial primary. He went on to crush Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, a far-right candidate who had been campaigning for Little’s job nearly her entire term. As acting governor, she grabbed headlines by issuing executive orders banning mask and vaccine mandates statewide that Little rescinded on his return.

Governor Brad Little commented Wednesday on Tuesday’s election after he secured a large majority of the vote in a five-way gubernatorial race.

“I am very proud and humbled that we earned the continued confidence of so many Idahoans! THANK YOU, IDAHO!

“The election results translate one thing: the people have given us a mandate, and that mandate is to keep our state on this path of incredible and unprecedented success, to continue investing in parents, students, and teachers, and to show the rest of country that conservative governing promotes prosperity and freedom.

“Working together MATTERS. Our ability to get things done for the people MATTERS. Leadership MATTERS.

“Here in Idaho, we have responded to the call from citizens and businesses to make government responsive and accountable. Years of fiscal conservatism have positioned us to become the least regulated state, to give Idahoans back more of their hard-earned money through year after year of record tax relief, and to have the strongest economy in the nation.

“I want to congratulate all those who earned a vote of confidence from Idahoans in Tuesday’s election. I stand ready to work with them to meet the people’s expectations.

“WE’RE READY to continue investing in education – students, parents, and teachers – and brighter futures.

“WE’RE READY to defend family, faith, and freedom.

“WE’RE READY to continue providing Idahoans more relief from taxes and make meaningful investments in our children, families, schools, roads, water, and many other key areas to keep up with growth and continue our high quality of life.

“I will remain focused on working together to make Idaho the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay.

“I am humbled to serve the people of Idaho and chart a course that keeps our state on track. It is truly an honor to receive a mandate from the people and work every day to fulfill it.”