Idaho Democratic Party News and Articles

Town halls are a strong tradition of American democracy. When politicians refuse to engage with their constituents, they betray the freedoms they swore to uphold. Across the nation, Republican officeholders are dodging constituents, avoiding questions, and even resorting to intimidation to silence dissent. Last month, Idaho made national news when a woman was assaulted and forcibly removed from a legislative “town hall” in Kootenai County for daring to ask [...]

In response to reports that the Trump administration will drop the lawsuit seeking to protect access to emergency abortions in Idaho, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement: “No woman should be denied lifesaving care, forfeit her future fertility, have to wait until she’s near death, or be forced to flee her home state just to receive the health care she needs. But that is exactly [...]

In response to Senate Republicans confirming Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement: “Idaho public schools are under attack by Republican politicians from the Statehouse to the White House. Last week, Brad Little turned his back on neighborhood schools by signing a costly, disastrous voucher scheme into law. Last night, both of Idaho’s U.S. senators voted to install [...]

We must continue striving toward a democracy where every person, rich or poor, has a single vote, and political influence cannot be bought. We’re rapidly moving in the wrong direction as a handful of billionaires — with an incomprehensible level of wealth — buy elections, buy politicians, and buy policies that benefit themselves. This is happening in Washington, D.C., and Idaho, where Governor Little signed a voucher bill despite [...]

Today, former Idaho Congressmen Richard Stallings and Larry LaRocco announced a statewide town hall tour to give Idahoans a voice at a time when their elected representatives refuse to listen. As Idaho’s Republican congressional delegation continues to avoid public town halls, Stallings and LaRocco are stepping up to provide voters with a platform to share their concerns, discuss challenges, and demand accountability from those in power. In the coming [...]

In response to Governor Brad Little signing House Bill 93, a costly tax credit voucher scheme, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement: "Brad Little cares more about appeasing out-of-state billionaires than protecting Idaho students and neighborhood schools. Idahoans saw this voucher scheme for what it was: a blatant attack on public education. They flooded his office with calls opposing it by a 10-to-1 margin because [...]

In response to House Republicans moving forward with their disastrous budget reconciliation bill that puts Idaho families last, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement: “Republicans Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher just showed us whose side they’re on, and it’s not Idaho families. There’s no way to cut $880 billion from Medicaid without taking healthcare away from seniors living in long-term care, children, and people with [...]

In response to reporting about the incident, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released the following statement: “Our democracy rests on our First Amendment rights. If we can’t question leaders elected to represent us without fear of reprisal, we are not free. The town hall is a valued American tradition that embodies these principles, providing a place for constituents to ask questions and share their opinions on the issues [...]

Leaders should never forget that they work for the people who elected them. But as Donald Trump and Elon Musk pursue a reckless agenda of mass firings and devastating funding cuts, Idaho’s Republican politicians are nowhere to be found. Instead of standing up for Idaho students, farmers, and workers, they’re bowing down to dangerous authoritarian rule. And our state will suffer. Take Idaho’s research institutions. Our colleges and universities [...]