Idaho Democratic Party News and Articles

Every legislative session, we see whether our leaders protect freedoms, lift families, and plant seeds for stronger futures. The opening week of the 2025 session highlighted the sharp contrast between the priorities of Idaho’s Democratic and Republican legislators. Democrats are working to protect financial stability, economic opportunity, and healthcare access. By contrast, the Republican supermajority’s agenda is driven by out-of-state voucher interests and far-right ideology.Education is a prime example. Idaho [...]

President Jimmy Carter’s legacy is multi-faceted. From championing human rights and global health to strengthening working families, he was a selfless public servant. For me, Carter’s legacy conjures the enduring image of him building homes well into his 90s. He said, “To have a decent place to live is to have a chance to live in peace and to have adequate health care and adequate education so that you [...]

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter: “Today, we join the nation in mourning the loss of President Jimmy Carter, a leader of unparalleled humility, integrity, and service. President Carter shared a unique bond with Idaho through his friendship with Governor Cecil Andrus, who served as his Secretary of the Interior. Together, they championed conservation efforts that left an [...]

With power comes the responsibility to uphold the law and conduct oneself ethically. The enormous power of presidential appointments, which include leading institutions that protect national security, should only be bestowed after thoughtful vetting.  This principle is embedded in the Constitution, as our Founding Fathers directed the Senate to confirm presidential cabinet members. Sadly, Idaho’s Republican senators have pledged to approve the president-elect’s appointee choices blindly.  This is a [...]

Idahoans deserve a government that works for them, not one that is sold to the highest bidder. When elections and legislative processes are for sale, we get governance more beholden to special interests and deep-pocketed donors than everyday people. The alarming amount of money spent influencing state and national elections should concern all of us. At the national level, one of the most glaring national examples is Elon Musk [...]

When accountability is sidelined in favor of extreme ideology, democracy suffers. This month, incoming Republican legislators elected new leadership that shifts significant power to the far-right. This has troubling implications for the upcoming session and the future of our state.  The new balance of power within House Republican leadership is especially alarming. Before Rep. Megan Blanskma was ousted during the last Legislature, House leadership was evenly split between supporters [...]

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement on the passing of former District 29 Representative Elaine Smith:“It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of former Representative Elaine Smith. Her extraordinary dedication to her community and state was evident in everything she did, from nearly two decades as a state lawmaker to her long career supporting education and building partnerships in Pocatello.As a representative of [...]

Our future depends on every child from every corner of Idaho receiving a great education. But when the Idaho Legislature convenes in January, special interest groups will launch their most aggressive push yet for school voucher schemes. These plans would drain public funds to bankroll private, for-profit, and religious schools that largely serve well-off, urban Idahoans with zero public accountability. Recent headlines highlight just how underfunded Idaho schools are. [...]

One thing I’ll miss as I retire from the Legislature is receiving emails from people across the state. They help me keep my fingers on the pulse of Idaho. When we get a dump of emails generated by an advocacy group, it gives us valuable intel about the campaigns they are running to inform (or misinform) voters. Currently, a group is sowing resentment and division to undermine public investments [...]