Where We Stand

Every four years, Idaho Democrats from across the state come together to craft our party’s platform. The platform is created to uplift working people and write out the values that will guide our party for years to come.

The Democratic Party envisions an America where everyone has the freedom and opportunity to succeed. Equality, justice, and progress guide our policies.

Tax dollars should be invested wisely. We commit to provide access to affordable healthcare, address climate change, and foster an economy that works for everyone, including a living wage and workers’ rights. We are dedicated to protecting and expanding civil rights and social justice, including LGBTQIA2S+ rights, reproductive freedoms, and criminal justice reform.

We support the 2nd Amendment which includes sensible gun safety and responsible ownership. We call for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform. In the global arena, we prioritize diplomacy, cooperation, and human rights, working with our allies to create a more peaceful and just world. Our party is built on the principles of inclusivity and diversity, reflecting the rich tapestry of America. We strive to create a brighter, more equitable and prosperous future for all Americans.

We have the constitutional and moral obligation to fully fund public education. Public dollars should stay in public schools. We stand against siphoning off public tax dollars for nonpublic school voucher schemes. Students and staff have the right to a safe learning environment. We must protect access to books and educational materials in libraries and in the classroom. Education is a life-long endeavor. Everyone should have access to education; we must invest in early childhood education, special education, technical and vocational training, higher education, job skills training, and continued learning opportunities.

Every Idahoan deserves the opportunity to achieve economic prosperity. We support investing in public infrastructure and clean energy. We believe in policies that empower workers and honor the dignity of a hard day’s work including providing living wages and adequate child care, securing affordable homes, protecting earned benefits such as Medicare and Social Security, and protecting the right to unionize. It is imperative to level the playing field for workers, small business owners, and the agricultural community. We will strengthen the economy and strengthen families by lowering the cost of living, providing tax fairness, alleviating the negative effects of growth, and promoting local agriculture.

We are dedicated to the promise of a democratic republic founded upon justice, liberty, and equal rights. As Idaho Democrats, we will protect and promote equal, inalienable, constitutional rights, freedom, equal opportunity, and equity for all, whether rural or urban: Women, Native American, Black, Hispanic and Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, the LGBTQIA2S+ community, immigrants, religious minorities, people with disabilities, veterans and all others who experience discrimination and disenfranchisement. We pledge to protect the advances made in civil rights legislation and call for expanding protections in Idaho for minority and marginalized groups.

Everyone should have access to high quality, affordable health care regardless of who they are, where they live, or their ability to pay. We will fight for reproductive freedoms including access to legal abortion, contraception, and IVF. We support the right of individuals to make their own medical decisions, including gender affirming care. Health care providers should not fear criminalization for providing evidence-based care. We oppose laws that are forcing health care providers to leave Idaho and causing healthcare facilities to close. We support policies to expand healthcare services, lower prescription drug prices, protect Medicaid, and improve mental health care access.

Our democracy is under immense pressure and assault at this moment in history. We will strengthen our democratic institutions by protecting access to the ballot box, enforcing anti-corruption laws, and defending against extremism, white supremacy, and violence. We will also promote transparency in government, freedom of the press, our constitutional rights, and the rule of law affirmed by an impartial and independent judiciary.

We extend gratitude to the Indigenous peoples and their elders who have called this place home since time immemorial. We offer gratitude for the land itself and its original caretakers. We will protect and preserve our natural resources and the quality of life they afford. We affirm the scientific evidence that climate change is having a detrimental effect on our state’s economy and public health. We must act now to mitigate the impacts of climate change, including investments in renewable energy that create green jobs and resilient food systems. Protecting Idaho’s water is critical. We have a duty to conserve our natural resources for agriculture, livelihood, and recreation as our heritage for future generations. And, we support the right of Idahoans to access and enjoy their public lands.