Idaho Democratic Party News and Articles

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 [...]

How much do Idaho women have to suffer before Republicans allow abortion care in medical emergencies and when health and fertility are threatened? This month, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador’s office gave its answer: endlessly. We must commend the courageous women who shared their stories before an Ada County judge, reliving the trauma they endured under Idaho’s draconian abortion ban. These women, plaintiffs in a lawsuit to clarify exceptions [...]

Democracy thrives when every voice is heard and leaders gain broad support from an engaged electorate. With closed Republican primaries shutting out independents, Idaho operates far from this ideal. Since the Idaho GOP closed its primary in 2012, the legislature has grown increasingly extreme, favoring fringe agendas over public needs. Concerned citizens brought the Open Primaries Initiative, or Proposition 1, to pull politics back toward the median voter’s views. [...]

Idaho Democrats are underdogs fighting for underdogs. We want strong public schools in every neighborhood, not just affluent towns. We want the next generation to have career opportunities with family-sustaining wages in every zip code. We want homes, child care, and other necessities to be affordable. We want fair taxes for working families, not more cuts for the ultra-wealthy. We want girls and women to have access to the [...]

Our democracy works best when candidates and elected officials work hard to reach out to their constituents. Over the past few months, I have knocked on doors in Jerome, Hailey, Lapwai, Boise, Moscow, and Pocatello. I have learned a lot. First, I talked to many voters who identified as Republican but are either voting Democratic — or seriously considering it. At one door, a former Republican official who held [...]

Ensuring children receive needed medical care should be a shared priority. Sadly, Idaho is making national news for epic failure on this front. The Washington Post reported the heart-wrenching story of a 13-year-old girl in McCall, pregnant and unable to get immediate medical attention when she had early contractions. Neither the girl nor the relative who brought her in could consent to care under a new Republican law. It [...]

Idahoans want the freedom to prosper and see their hard work translate into financial stability for their families. Yet, as our state grows, many middle-class families are finding it harder to manage the cost of essentials like health care, housing, and groceries. Idaho Democrats understand these challenges. That’s why we prioritize lower costs for families and tax solutions that benefit everyday families, not just the wealthy few. Idaho’s tax [...]