[40] The clashes intensified amid an intra-party split among Republicans on COVID-19 vaccinations, masks, and pandemic-related issues, on which traditional Republicans and the far-right disagreed. I sure hope she becomes our next governor.. Janice McGeachin attends a rally to support semi-truckers and protest against COVID-19 vaccination mandates for employment held in Boise in March. Littles staff never returned her umpteen-million phone calls, she said. [71] Of Idaho's 44 counties, McGeachin carried just four, all in the Idaho Panhandle. "[25] The Idaho Falls Post Register editorial board criticized McGeachin for embracing the 3 Percenters and militia movement. Janice McGeachin stands with her husband Jim in front of the Idaho Capitol building prior to taking the podium to announce her run for governor on May 19. He wondered aloud whether the change is because she no longer feels supported by the state GOP, or because the majority of lawmakers are more in line with Little. Reporter Blake Jones covers the politics and policy of Idaho's K-12 public school system. McGeachins family businesses, particularly the pub, have become targets for harassment, she said, on account of her political ideology. After years in the local Rotary Club and Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, McGeachin made her first run at elected office in 2000, in the Republican primary for Bonneville County commissioner. Sometimes, a contrarian candidate wins in a closed Republican primary. Colleagues recognized her as a member of the more conservative wing of the Republican Party, sponsoring anti-abortion bills and stridently opposing the Affordable Care Act, passed under Democratic President Barack Obama. After library bill vote, Boyle abruptly steps down from House Education, Lawmakers reject new ESA proposal in frustrated debate, Statehouse roundup, 2.27.23: Parental rights bill passes House easily, Coeur dAlene trustee calls anti-levy campaign disgusting and un-American. Suddenly, the bartender is zipping through the aisle asking those seated if they would like a shot. McGeachin claims foul play on Little for leaving the state Janice McGeachin: The Donald Trump of Idaho Idaho Tribune Janice Kyes McGeachin ( / mi.n /; born January 18, 1963) [1] is an American far-right [2] [3] [4] politician and businesswoman who served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 2019 to 2023. After that, she ran unopposed five times in the Republican primary for a state House seat representing Idaho Falls, from 2002 to 2012. Also joining were nationally known special guests freedom fighters, as McGeachin dubs them including former Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin and Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers, who each endorse McGeachin. He replaced Knopp, following his withdrawal from the task force. Dark wood moulding with ornate Celtic inlay pay tribute to the pubs overarching theme, as do a row of soccer scarves and flags from the nations of the United Kingdom hanging overhead. And this is a manifestation of it in our face. | Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com, If you ask the kids, Henry told a small crowd gathered during a fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery, the very best day that they had last year, it was the one day that she (issued) the executive order for them to go to school without a mask. The room erupted in cheers and applause, as one attendee shouted, FREEDOM!. Late last week, Idaho Lt. In recent months, she has testified in favor of policies targeting critical race theory and social justice in the classroom, at one point saying a controversial bill dealing with critical race theory did not go far enough to oust the content from public schools. James Wilson first appeared through internet searches to be a controversial North Idaho evangelist who authored a book applying tenets of warfare to strategic evangelism, but he is not, McGeachins chief of staff Jordan Watters wrote by email May 27. She is the first female lieutenant governor of Idaho. Another source of inspiration for McGeachin can frequently be found hanging around her neck. Hamilton, also McGeachins part-time director of communications this past legislative session, said the pendant epitomized her feelings toward the lieutenant governor, and is also a message she hoped her friend would keep close to her heart out on the campaign trail. Janice McGeachin said Wednesday she was running for governor of Idaho . Thats exactly the sentiment behind it just get it done, girl.. Karen McGee is a former Idaho State Board of Education executive director and president. [79], McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary. Brad Little wins GOP primary over Trump's pick, Lt. Gov. Its pronounced Ma-Gee-in.. McGeachin claims the in-house smoked chicken wings are the best in the state. Her candidacy was supported by state Senator Dean Mortimer. Idaho deserves law-abiding leaders, not divisive leaders. Janice McGeachin speaks during a meet-and-greet campaign fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery in April. [37] Separately, McGeachin's attorneys billed her almost $17,000 to defend her in the records lawsuit; McGeachin said in 2022 that the public did not pay for these legal fees. [59][73] She appeared at a rally for the Three Percenters, an anti-government militia movement group. It worked, despite Littles own past support for Trump. In addition, McGeachin threw open the doors of her familys pub in Idaho Falls before the order preventing bars from reopening lapsed. [74] In the voter pamphlet, she contended, "The federal government has become too restrictive in how we teach our kids, manage health care, build our roads and manage our resources. A few challengers ran spendy races and unseated Statehouse incumbents. Former state Rep. Jeff Thompson, an Idaho Falls Republican who served two terms in the House with McGeachin, drew a parallel between his old friends political shift and Trumps unexpected ascension in the Republican Party in 2016, all the way to the Oval Office. | Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com. Since winning the lieutenant governors office, McGeachin has regularly garnered the spotlight for her combative relationship with Little. Ask Nampa resident Amy Henry, and shell eagerly explain how McGeachins one-day executive order banning masks was overdue, and a game-changer for Idaho schoolchildren. A customer at the end of the bar, from Montana, wants to buy everyone a duck fart.. | Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com. July fundraising reports will trickle in over the next few days, as candidates report their monthly activity. Janice McGeachin at a meet-and-greet campaign fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery in April. Idaho Lt. Gov. Some lawmakers, including longtime friends, refuse to talk about her, or request to go off the record. Professor Scott Yenor is a professor of political philosophy at Boise State University. It remains the only election McGeachin has lost. We will make Idaho a sanctuary for life, protecting the unborn and protecting our elderly from abuse., Taking Trumps lead, McGeachin told the Statesman she thinks the former president won the 2020 election over Biden, though no evidence has been produced of widespread voter fraud, as Trump and his allies have claimed. McGeachins May 17 GOP primary is one of Idahos most-watched races, largely because it has determined the governor for the past seven elections in the heavily conservative state. Members continue to include an Idaho Freedom Foundation employee and a charter school leader who pushed to use the Bible in public schools. Ive already addressed it, and that story just needs to go away, McGeachin told the Statesman, declining to field questions about her appearance at the conference. Its perhaps a surprise location from which to mount a run for the states highest office. We are in a Marxist takeover, a communist takeover (in) this country. (We) broke the glass ceiling, and were going to break another glass ceiling., Lt. Gov. She said she does not dispute that masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus, particularly N95s and hospital surgical masks. [15][19] McGeachin narrowly won the Republican primary election on May 15, 2018, with 28.9% of the vote, then defeated Democratic nominee Kristin Collum in the November general election. Beck is second only to businessman Frank VanderSloot, who, as owner of Melaleuca Inc., a personal health company also based in Idaho Falls, is ranked on the list of the worlds 400 wealthiest people by Forbes. [36] The legislature declined McGeachin's request to have the costs of the settlement paid by the state budget. [38] Little also noted that her order duplicated a proposed bill that had failed to pass the state legislature. Jason Knopp is the vice chairman of the Melba School Districts board. | Kevin Fixler, kfixler@idahostatesman.com. One of the bartenders approaches the party of three to enlist use of a cellphone to take photos of the family from behind the bar. McGeachin named Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, and former Republican U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage, of Idaho, as two women she admires. The rotation of bartenders appears to be playing to their VIPs, frequently stopping to check in on the McGeachins and their daughter. She unsuccessfully challenged Little in the Republican primary for governor in the 2022 election. [41], In May 2020, Little said he had not spoken to McGeachin in weeks. Her campaign events typically begin with prayer, and she routinely mentions her unwavering belief in God and his plan for the state, and nation, out on the stump. She argued, however, that her actions did not violate the governors restrictions, because her pub also includes a restaurant. "Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a religion of . A month later, she administered an oath to members of the Real Three Percent of Idaho, including Eric Parker, the groups leader, who said she once told him if she were elected, he would have a friend in the governors office. Parker endorsed McGeachin for governor last year. The two positions run for election separately, rather than as a unified ticket. COEUR d'ALENE With an American flag and two crosses in the background at Candlelight Christian Fellowship, Lt. Gov. Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin launches bid for governor, challenging [77], McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary[78] and for the general election. "[52], McGeachin has used her office to promote misinformation to disparage COVID-19 vaccines. [6][74][75] She opposes minimum wages, believing that government should play no role in determining wages. We will restore health freedom and end the threat of medical tyranny. Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, whom Trump handpicked, has said of the presidents election allegations: It was all bullst.. Occupying a largely ceremonial role, the lieutenant governor acts as president of the Senate. Janice Kyes McGeachin (/mi.n/; born January 18, 1963)[1] is an American far-right[2][3][4] politician and businesswoman who served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 2019 to 2023. His lieutenant governor took power and banned state vaccine mandates. In the past, shes advocated for a sex education opt-in bill and has decried Common Core standards, at one point saying curriculum and textbook providers use Common Core to recommend pornographic books for use in schools, EdNews previously reported. [6][7], McGeachin unsuccessfully ran for Bonneville County commissioner in 2000, her first bid for elected office. A federal district court later shot down the practice in 2011, the Associated Press reported. Excuse me, I really like what youre doing here, he says, to which she thanks him, and chats for a moment. Shes no longer shown herself to be the very personable, outgoing, kind lawmaker he knew when she was a member of the state House and the two would occasionally collaborate on bills, he said. [70], McGeachin is part of the far-right wing of the Republican Party. Its in our homes, she said. On May 17, the day Marsh Valley signed off on the separation, the Buhl School Districts board voted to hire Moffett to be president of the districts 34-student alternative high school, Wakapa, according to meeting minutes obtained by EdNews. Idaho Education News Data Analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this report. The makeup of Lt. Gov. [40][46] At the rally, McGeachin criticized Little and other state officials. Janice McGeachin enters the house chambers at the state Capitol building on Jan. 10, 2022 in Boise, Idaho. Beck is not sure how McGeachin made the connection to Trump, he said, but she did it all on her own. "[47][39], In November 2020, McGeachin submitted a proposal to Governor Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee, seeking to spend $17 million in federal COVID-19 aid funds to purchase and operate two "walk-through disinfectant cubes" at the Idaho state Capitol. Among their favorite ski resorts are Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole, both in Wyoming near the Idaho border, and Sun Valley, where the family also owns a home just south of Ketchum. The family spends leisure time skiing, camping and playing golf, although McGeachin calls herself more of a hacker out on the fairways. Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin responds to Little | Local I stood with them then, and I stand with them today., Lt. Gov. I admit, to a certain extent, it was a little bit surprising, Little told the Statesman during an April phone interview, adding he didnt know why Trump endorsed his chief rival. McGeachin and her husband, Jim, also own the wholesale automotive parts supplier store Idaho Transmission Warehouse, which has two Idaho locations, as well as a torque convertor remanufacturing.
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