# 2022 Idaho gubernatorial election

Elections in Idaho :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1890
1895
1897
1901
1902
1903
1907
1909
1913
1913 sp
1914
1918
1918 sp
1920
1924
1926
1928 sp
1930
1932
1936
1938
1940 sp
1942
1944
1946 sp
1948
1950
1950 sp
1954
1956
1960
1962 sp
1962
1966
1968
1972
1974
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
2028
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
General elections
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
2018
2022
Secretary of State elections
2022
Attorney General elections
2022
State Treasurer elections
2022
Senate elections
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022 *2024 :
Ballot measures
Ballot measures
1994
Proposition 1
2006
Amendment 2
Proposition 2
2018
Proposition 1
Proposition 2 :
Boise
Mayoral elections
2015
2019
2023 :
Meridian
Mayoral elections
2015
2019
2023 :
vte :
The 2022 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8 to elect the next governor of Idaho. Incumbent Brad Little, first elected in 2018, was re-elected for a second term, the eighth consecutive win by a Republican.
The statewide primary was held on May 17; Little defeated incumbent lieutenant governor Janice McGeachin in the Republican primary, while Stephen Heidt won the Democratic primary. Little convincingly won the general election, but there was a relatively strong performance by far-right independent candidate Ammon Bundy, who finished roughly three points behind Heidt, and ahead of Heidt in 34 of Idaho's 44 counties.
Bundy's share of the vote was the best non-major party performance or the best outside both major parties performance since 1926. This was the worst Democratic performance since 1924, and one of only three times since then where the Democratic candidate failed to achieve 30% of the vote.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Brad Little, incumbent governor (Emmett)

#### Eliminated in primary

* Steve Bradshaw, Bonner County commissioner (Cocolalla)
* Ben Cannady, candidate for governor in 2018 (Boise)
* Walter French
* Ed Humphreys, financial advisor and Region IV chair of the Idaho Republican Party (Eagle)
* Ashley Jackson, actress, marijuana legalization activist (Preston)
* Lisa Marie, entrepreneur, humanitarian, mother (Eagle)
* Janice McGeachin, lieutenant governor of Idaho (Idaho Falls)
* Cody Usabel (Meridian)

#### Withdrawn

* Ammon Bundy, anti-government militant, activist, and leader of the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (ran as an independent) (Emmett)
* Chris Hammond

#### Declined

* Raúl Labrador, former U.S. representative from ID-01, former chair of the Idaho Republican Party, and candidate for governor in 2018 (successfully ran for Idaho Attorney General)

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Tommy Ahlquist, businessman, physician, candidate for governor of Idaho in 2018
Newspapers
* Coeur d'Alene Press
Organizations
* Idaho Chooses Life
* Idaho Education Association
* Idaho Fraternal Order of Police
* NRA Political Victory Fund
U.S. executive branch officials
* Alan Keyes, former ambassador to the Economic and Social Council and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Maryland in 1988 and 1992, and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois in 2004, and candidate for president of the United States in 1996, 2000, and 2008
* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
State legislators
* Wendy Rogers, state senator from Arizona's 6th legislative district
* Bryan Zollinger, former representative for Idaho's 33rd legislative district, Seat B (2016–2020)
Individuals
* Larry Elder, conservative radio host and candidate for Governor of California in 2021
* Eric McGilp, chair of the Boise County Republican Party
Organizations
* Idaho Freedom PAC
* Republican Liberty Caucus
* Three Percenters
U.S. representatives
* Ron Paul, former U.S. representative (R-TX), candidate for president in 1988, 2008 and 2012 (Libertarian)
Individuals
* Roger Stone, conservative political consultant and lobbyist

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Steve Bradshaw | Ammon Bundy | Ed Humphreys | Ashley Jackson | Brad Little | Lisa Marie | Janice McGeachin | Cody Usabel | Undecided |
| Zoldak Research (R) | April 9–12, 2022 | 549 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 3% | – | 6% | 1% | 60% | <1% | 29% | <1% | – |
| Zoldak Research (R) | April 9–12, 2022 | 549 (LV) | ± 4.0% | – | – | 19% | – | 62% | – | – | – | 19% |
| Zoldak Research (R) | April 9–12, 2022 | 549 (LV) | ± 4.0% | – | – | – | – | 62% | – | 33% | – | 6% |
| | February 17, 2022 | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race | Bundy withdraws from the race |
| Zoldak Research (R) | December 20–21, 2021 | 575 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 1% | 6% | 2% | – | 59% | – | 18% | 0% | 14% |
| Zoldak Research (R) | December 20–21, 2021 | 575 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 10% | – | – | – | 64% | – | – | – | 26% |
| Zoldak Research (R) | December 20–21, 2021 | 575 (LV) | ± 4.1% | – | 15% | – | – | 70% | – | – | – | 15% |
| Zoldak Research (R) | December 20–21, 2021 | 575 (LV) | ± 4.1% | – | – | 11% | – | 65% | – | – | – | 24% |
| Zoldak Research (R) | December 20–21, 2021 | 575 (LV) | ± 4.1% | – | – | – | – | 64% | – | 24% | – | 12% |

### Primary results

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brad Little (incumbent) | 148,831 | 52.8 |
| | Republican | Janice McGeachin | 90,854 | 32.2 |
| | Republican | Ed Humphreys | 30,877 | 11.0 |
| | Republican | Steve Bradshaw | 5,470 | 1.9 |
| | Republican | Ashley Jackson | 3,172 | 1.1 |
| | Republican | Lisa Marie | 1,119 | 0.4 |
| | Republican | Ben Cannady | 804 | 0.3 |
| | Republican | Cody Usabel | 680 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 281,807 | 100 |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Stephen Heidt, college instructor (Marsing)

#### Write-in candidates

* David J. Reilly, activist and media personality
* Shelby Rognstad, mayor of Sandpoint (failed to change party registration and running as write-in candidate instead)

#### Withdrew

* Melissa Sue Robinson, perennial candidate

#### Declined

* AJ Balukoff, former Boise School District trustee, nominee for governor in 2014, and candidate in 2018 (endorsed Shelby Rognstad)

### Endorsements

Federal politicians
* Larry LaRocco, former U.S. representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district (1991–1995)
* Walt Minnick, former U.S. representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district (2009–2011)
Idaho local officials/politicians
* AJ Balukoff, former Boise School District trustee, nominee for governor in 2014, and candidate for governor in 2018

### Primary results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Stephen Heidt | 25,088 | 78.8 |
| | Democratic | Write-ins | 6,757 | 21.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 31,845 | 100 |

### Write-in count

Shelby Rognstad received 6,736 votes/21.2%. David Reilly received 21 votes/0.07%.

## Libertarian primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* John Dionne Jr.
* Paul Sand, White Bird city councilman, retired software engineer

### Primary results

Libertarian primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Paul Sand | 426 | 60.2 |
| | Libertarian | John Dionne | 281 | 39.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 707 | 100 |

## Constitution primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Chantyrose Davison

#### Write In

* Ryan Cole, member of the Central Idaho Health District board and pathologist (failed to change party registration and running as write-in candidate instead)

#### Withdrew

* Pro-Life, organic strawberry farmer and perennial candidate (running for lieutenant governor)

### Primary results

Constitution primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Constitution | Chantyrose Davison | 345 | 64.4 |
| | Constitution | Write-ins | 191 | 35.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 536 | 100 |

### Write-in count

Dr. Ryan Cole received 25 votes/6.7%.

## Independents
### Declared

* Ammon Bundy, leader of the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

### Withdrawn

* John Dionne (running as a Libertarian)
* Pro Life (running for lieutenant governor)

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | July 26, 2022 |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | July 22, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | June 29, 2022 |
| Politico | Solid R | April 1, 2022 |
| RCP | Safe R | January 10, 2022 |
| Fox News | Solid R | May 12, 2022 |
| 538 | Solid R | July 31, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Safe R | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Organizations
* Idaho Associated General Contractors
* National Education Association
* National Federation of Independent Business - Idaho chapter
U.S. representatives
* Ron Paul, former U.S. representative (R-TX) (1976-1977, 1979-1985, 1997-2013), candidate for president in 1988, 2008 and 2012 (Libertarian)
Individuals
* Pro-Life, 2022 Constitution Party candidate for lt. governor, organic strawberry farmer, and Idaho perennial candidate (Constitution)
* Collin Raye, country music singer
* Roger Stone, conservative political consultant and lobbyist (Republican)
* James White, Montana Gazette Radio host
Organizations
* Idaho Freedom PAC

### Results

* Democratic — +>30%
* Democratic — +25-30%
* Democratic — +20-25%
* Democratic — +15-20%
* Democratic — +10-15%
* Democratic — +5-10%
* Democratic — +0-5%
* Republican — +0-5%
* Republican — +5-10%
* Republican — +10-15%
* Republican — +15-20%
* Republican — +20-25%
* Republican — +25-30%
* Republican — +>30%
* Democratic — +>30%
* Democratic — +25-30%
* Democratic — +20-25%
* Democratic — +15-20%
* Democratic — +10-15%
* Democratic — +5-10%
* Democratic — +0-5%
* Republican — +0-5%
* Republican — +5-10%
* Republican — +10-15%
* Republican — +15-20%
* Republican — +20-25%
* Republican — +25-30%
* Republican — +>30%
2022 Idaho gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Brad Little (incumbent) | 358,598 | 60.51% | 0.74% |
| | Democratic | Stephen Heidt | 120,160 | 20.28% | 17.91% |
| | Independent | Ammon Bundy | 101,835 | 17.18% | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Paul Sand | 6,714 | 1.13% | 0.05% |
| | Constitution | Chantyrose Davison | 5,250 | 0.89% | 0.07% |
| | Independent | Lisa Marie (write-in) | 67 | 0.01% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 592,624 | 100.00% | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 599,353 | 57.18% | −4.24% |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,048,263 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Latah (largest municipality: Moscow)
* Ada (largest municipality: Boise)
* Teton (largest municipality: Victor)

#### By congressional district

Little won both congressional districts.
| District | Little | Heidt | Bundy | Representative |
| 1st | 61% | 17% | 20% | Russ Fulcher |
| 2nd | 60% | 24% | 14% | Mike Simpson |