It was an affirmation to me when I won the lieutenant governors race, McGeachin said, before referencing her status as the first woman in the position, and chance of making history again as governor. Brian Myrick / Idaho Press. Brian Myrick / Idaho Press. In addition, Beck is the state committeeman for the Bonneville County GOP and a board member for the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a powerful right-wing lobbying group. She lost the primary by just 241 votes to one-term Commissioner Lee Staker, a former state senator who went on to serve 18 years in the post. All rights reserved, If you choose local pickup, please get your gift certificate at our office at 400 W. Sunnyside in Idaho Falls Dismiss, defended accepting the coronavirus relief payments, Man charged with murder in Dylan Rounds case, Caught on camera: Moose charges snowmobilers by Palisades, Man allegedly kidnapped woman, held air freshener to her nose and mouth, Giant flying insect found on Walmart building turns out to be Jurassic-era find, Video shows suspect with blood stains as he cleaned gun following Dylan Rounds disappearance, charges say. A boat repair lot sits across the street. [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. She said she does not dispute that masks are effective in preventing the spread of the virus, particularly N95s and hospital surgical masks. When they passed gay marriage, they opened Pandoras box. Who Is Janice McGeachin's Husband? Members of her initiative claimed, without substantiation, that Idaho schoolchildren were being indoctrinated. After four meetings, the task force delivered a set of vague recommendations. Shes marvelous. Previously unidentified, five other task force members introduced themselves at the task forces inaugural meeting. Its just about all women supporting each other, McGeachin said. Its in our homes, she said. [81], McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary. It is time to make Idaho free again, she said. McGeachin faced no Democratic challenger in the general election in three out of the five races, easily beating her opponent the other two times with more than 71% of the vote. 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. At a March rally in southeast Boise for semi-truckers headed to Washington, D.C., to protest pandemic-related restrictions, McGeachin defended her fiery platform and her supporters to the crowd gathered on a small lawn next to a highway offramp truck stop. But I think that this is the time that if we dont make the changes that need to happen, Idahos gone for our kids. First, in May, she banned mask mandates by state and local authorities while Little was attending a Republican Governors Association conference in Tennessee. Janice McGeachin said Wednesday she was running for governor of Idaho . Janice McGeachin presented her 10-point gubernatorial platform for her first 100 days in office during a press conference on the Idaho Capitol steps in March. During one of her final pitches to voters, McGeachin closely followed the path laid out before her by right-wing conservatives in the Trump era. "[69], In the May 17, 2022 Republican primary election, McGeachin lost to Little. The pastor of the Cowboy Church, Scotty Brown, looks the part. Beck is not sure how McGeachin made the connection to Trump, he said, but she did it all on her own. "[59], McGeachin was an Idaho presidential elector for the Republican slate in 2020, casting one of Idaho's four electoral votes for Donald Trump; the other Idaho electors that year were Melinda Smyser, Raul Labrador, and Rod Beck. Were getting to be too much of a centralized government on the federal level and getting away from what I believe our Founding Fathers intent was, McGeachin said, seated in her campaign headquarters office flanked by a framed photo of her firing an assault-style rifle. Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said McGeachins relationship with Republican leadership has soured during her time as lieutenant governor. Occupying a largely ceremonial role, the lieutenant governor acts as president of the Senate. 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. Thats all great, but if thats why you can do it, then you open yourself up for people to look at the businesses.. About halfway through, he reminded attendees about various forms of sin in the eyes of God. The couple has two children. I thought it was a perfect saying for Janice, because of everything shes going through, and how much everyone makes her something she is not, Hamilton said by phone. "[52], McGeachin has used her office to promote misinformation to disparage COVID-19 vaccines. In one recent check-in, McGeachin said, she sought his guidance. July fundraising reports will trickle in over the next few days, as candidates report their monthly activity. The Foundation stirred upheaval in this years legislative session over leftist indoctrination in the classroom, an effort that stalled education budgets. [55] A surge in COVID-19 cases first strained, and then surpassed, the capacity of the state's health care system. Just put your head down and keep going. A political philosophy professor and a former Idaho State Board of Education president also sit on the 14-member assembly. This group is described by Steve Taggart in his most recent Idaho Politics Weekly post as "wacky and extremist at best." But a group of retired police officers and. The Idaho Capital Sun has filed a public record's request with McGeachin's office. One more for prosperity.. Janice McGeachin settles Idaho Press Club Lawsuit, Public records show McGeachin billed nearly $17,000 for her own legal fees in records lawsuit, Idaho leaders don't act on McGeachin legal fee request, Idaho lieutenant governor banned mask mandates while the governor was out of town. Other priorities under a McGeachin administration, she said, include seeking the end of the states tax on groceries, opening public lands for mining of rare earth minerals and managing the states growth. [38] Little also noted that her order duplicated a proposed bill that had failed to pass the state legislature. in finance and accounting from the University of Arizona. Lt. Gov. She argued, however, that her actions did not violate the governors restrictions, because her pub also includes a restaurant. [58][52], In October 2021, while Little was out of state touring the Southern border, McGeachin, claiming power as acting governor in Little's absence, issued an executive order banning state officials from requiring proof of vaccination from employees and sought to ban employers from requiring vaccinations altogether. Under her vision for the state, McGeachin said, businesses and churches will never be forcibly closed, as happened during the stay-at-home order out of concern for public health. [31] The Idaho Statesman editorial board described the effort as "a manufactured witch hunt" driven by the "far-right fringe of Idaho's politics. No matter how much people are trying to tear her down, she just has an ability to ignore it and move on with what she feels is right., Machele Hamilton, left, a House District 12 Republican primary candidate, and Lt. Gov. Those arent the types of invites she gets from her old colleagues anymore. Her participation in that event - which also featured . As part of a 10-point platform in her first 100 days as governor, McGeachin said she will work to prevent and eliminate all pandemic-related public health mandates, add incentives to increase production of firearms and ammunition in the state and strengthen abortion restrictions. EastIdahoNews.com, LLC. This is our country, and were going to take it back! Rogers shouted to the crowd. [41][38][50] McGeachin issued the order without consulting Little,[38] and against the wishes of state health officials who had sought a statewide mask mandate,[51] which Idaho has never had. She protested at rallies, in direct violation of the orders, before showing up to the reopening of a brewpub in North Idaho that defied the governors requirements. Janice McGeachin launches bid for governor, challenging. Janice McGeachin attends a rally to support semi-truckers and protest against COVID-19 vaccination mandates for employment held in Boise in March. Her candidacy was supported by state Senator Dean Mortimer. Repeatedly passed off by school district officials, Henry said, she reached out to the governors office for help. McGeachin. Sex with animals.. 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. But, then again, McGeachin, 59, is a surprise candidate, having emerged from relative anonymity after years away from public office to win the lieutenant governors race four years ago as an underdog. Elaine King previously ran for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 34, which covers the Rexburg area, in 2018, but lost in the Republican primary. Each was the first woman to serve in their positions, too, and she credited them both for their fearlessness and no-nonsense approach to politics. 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. Her husband is Jim McGeachin Janice McGeachin Net Worth Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. The residents came together and pulled through, McGeachin said. The departure had nothing to do with his participation on the task force, Moffett told the Idaho State Journal. 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 got more serious when she moved back to their hometown. 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. She more often drops into one in the Wood River Valley, she said, and another, more worship-based congregation in Idaho Falls called Watersprings Church. A federal district court later shot down the practice in 2011, the Associated Press reported. She met her husband, Jimmy McGeachin, while she was in high school and he attended college at the University of Idaho, she said. Janice McGeachin enters the house chambers at the state Capitol building on Jan. 10, 2022 in Boise, Idaho. McGeachin on Fauci: I'll "lock him up", "Idaho Gov. Janice McGeachin", Far-right Idaho lieutenant governor McGeachin announces bid to unseat Little as governor, Lieutenant governor candidates differ on Medicaid, wages, Idaho Republicans push opposition to Medicaid expansion, "Days before filing begins, several candidates declare their intentions", November 6, 2018 General Election Results: Statewide Totals, "Idaho Governor Primary Election Results", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Janice_McGeachin&oldid=1142145521, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 19:27. (VanderSloot and his wife, Belinda, each donated campaign maximums of $5,000 to Little. "[33], In August 2021, a state judge fined McGeachin $750 for violating the Idaho Public Records Act by failing to turn over documents requested by the Idaho Press Club. Traditionally the officeholder in the bench-warmer spot has waited until the governor chose to end his run, or transitioned to a federal position. [14] McGeachin frequently criticized Little's strategy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. calls that 'shameful', Idaho governor repeals political rival's executive order. 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. | Sarah A. Miller [email protected]. As I have traveled across our beautiful state, I have listened to our people, McGeachin said in a speech from the Capitol steps in March. So when women especially conservative women try to get involved in this, we need to have encouragement as much as we can., Jennifer Curtiss, of Nampa, left, poses for a photo with Idaho GOP vice chair Machele Hamilton, center, and Lt. Gov. Amid a deluge of partisan cheerleading, anti-LGBTQ speech and Trump worship from invited speakers, Idahos lieutenant governor took hold of the mic. She committed, however, to accepting the results of the states May primary, believing voting irregularities in Idaho where Trump won big were not large scale. She said she took a pair of trips, to Trump Tower in New York City and his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, to explain her role as vice chair of his presidential campaign in Idaho before serving as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020. "[25] The Idaho Falls Post Register editorial board criticized McGeachin for embracing the 3 Percenters and militia movement. We can never give up. COEUR d'ALENE With an American flag and two crosses in the background at Candlelight Christian Fellowship, Lt. Gov. Theres no future for them, and I mean that wholeheartedly., Lt. Gov. She owns an Irish pub in Idaho Falls and co-owns a wholesale automotive parts supply store and a torque converter remanufacturing facility with her husband. Her relationship with Little finally boiled over last year when McGeachin leveraged the Idaho Constitution, which bestows power upon her position when the governor is out of state, and issued a pair of pandemic-related executive orders. Delivering the phone back to McGeachins daughter, he has some advice. Proms and school sports seasons will never again be canceled, she promised. Janice McGeachin facing public condemnation over photo with 3 Percenters", "Idaho Lieutenant Governor Faces Backlash For Photo Supporting Jailed Militiaman", "Idaho Lt. Gov. [71] Of Idaho's 44 counties, McGeachin carried just four, all in the Idaho Panhandle. Governor Janice McGeachin posed with and then posted on Facebook pictures she had taken with two members of The Three Percenters. Idahos first woman to fill the lieutenant governors office has fostered a national profile for her unconventional and outspoken approach to the job, drawing comparisons to right-wing firebrands such as U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado. Sonya Harris is a politically active Blackfoot school board trustee. Idaho Education News Data Analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this report. The Republican lieutenant governors candidate backed out after debate organizers would not give her an advance list of reporters on the panel. [40][46] In October 2020, McGeachin appeared in a video by the right-wing Idaho Freedom Foundation in which she wielded a gun and Bible, railed against COVID-19 public-health measures, and questioned whether "a pandemic may or may not be occurring. Janice McGeachin at a meet-and-greet campaign fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery in April. In her statement, she challenged news outlets for accusing conservatives of believing everything ever said by anyone with whom they share a stage, adding that she does not support identity politics or other discriminatory views.. [70] Little won re-nomination with 52.81% of the vote, with McGeachin receiving 32.24% of the vote, Edward R. Humphreys receiving 10.96% of the vote, and an assortment of minor candidates receiving the rest. 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. [6], McGeachin supported Mitt Romney in the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries[12] and the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries. What is Janice McGeachin Net Worth? A federal appeals court overturned Idahos ban on same-sex marriage in 2014, and the U.S. Supreme Court legalized it across all 50 states a year later. Isaac Moffett founded the now-defunct Nampa Classical Academy and drew headlines in 2009 when his school sued the state in hopes of using the Bible and other religious texts in his charter schools curriculum. Little and McGeachin have become famously locked in disharmony. Brian Myrick / Idaho Press. She also inquired with the Idaho National Guard about ordering troops to the U.S.-Mexico border that Little was visiting. Excuse me, I really like what youre doing here, he says, to which she thanks him, and chats for a moment. She went on to defeat Democratic candidate Kristin Collum in the general election with nearly 60% of votes. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Loyola University in Chicago. [80] She won the general election with 71.19% of the vote against Democratic nominee Scott Cannon. Today, hers is a household name throughout Idaho, even if many people are still unsure how to say it. McGeachin and her husband also own and operate an auto parts distribution center, a machine shop and two transmission repair shops. 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. It now acts as the nerve center for Republican Janice McGeachins upstart political ambitions for governor. Lt. Gov. Regardless, McGeachins faithful following has continued to grow. McGeachin is advocating for a nationwide audit of each states voter rolls as part of her gubernatorial platform, and also elimination of all mail-in ballots in Idaho elections. 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. 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. Janice McGeachin Thursday unveiled the membership list of her new "Task Force to Examine . He's a lifelong Idahoan, and holds degrees in Creative Writing and Political Economy from the College of Idaho. It defines homosexuality as a form of sexual immorality, grouping it with adultery, incest and bestiality. His pick for governor in Nebraska, alleged sexual abuser Charles Herbster, failed to make it through the primary last week. Little Says He Hasn't Spoken To Lt. Gov McGeachin In Weeks, Cases of coronavirus in Idaho spike after businesses reopen, Lt. Gov. "[6][21], In February 2019, McGeachin posted a photo on her Facebook page of her posing in front of her Idaho State Capitol door with two members of the 3 Percenters, an anti-government militia movement group. McGeachin said she leans on her Presbyterian faith and her trust in God when she encounters obstacles. Without naming McGeachin, Little disavowed her appearance at the conference on social media, saying it was extremely unfortunate anyone in elected office in Idaho must make statements like these., Idaho Lt. Gov. [8] As a Republican, she was a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from 2002 to 2012. McGeachins push to become Idahos lead executive is her second campaign for statewide office after a narrow margin of victory in 2018s Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Assorted $1 bills folded into origami shapes, including hearts and bow ties, decorate the side of a Jameson Irish Whiskey mirror above the bar. After an onslaught of negative attention tied to the AFPAC event, including calls for her to resign, McGeachin responded by chastising the media a common target of her contempt, including consistent use of the phrase fake news media popularized by Trump. I know she liked to have a good time, said Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, who served three terms with McGeachin in the House and used to rent a place on the same floor of a building three blocks from the Capitol. BOISE (Idaho Statesman) Idaho Lt. Gov. Joseph Kren was the principal at Priest River Lamanna High School through last spring, when he left the school after 34 years in Idaho education. Janice McGeachin fined $750 over public record violations, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin speaks during a meet-and-greet campaign fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery in April. Janice McGeachin is the lieutenant governor of the State of Idaho. [26], In February 2022, McGeachin appeared as a surprise video guest speaker at the America First Political Action Conference, hosted by prominent white nationalist Nick Fuentes. However, on Monday, a state budget administrator warned McGeachin state law places limitations on the ability to reduce an elected constitutional officer's salary mid-term . Well, whats after that? [68] While addressing a crowd of fellow Republicans at a campaign appearance, McGeachin criticized the Boise Police Department and Boise State University for holding a conference to study right-wing extremism, and said of Anthony Fauci (the U.S. government's top infectious disease scientist): "we'll lock him up. 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. After that, she ran unopposed five times in the Republican primary for a state House seat representing Idaho Falls, from 2002 to 2012. Thats where the battle is going to be, and thats why Im running for governor.. She does not cave with pressure, and stands up for what she believes, Hamilton told the Statesman in a phone interview. Since 2016, Beck and his family have donated the second-most money among Idaho residents directly to Trumps campaigns and political action committees, eclipsing $250,000, according to Federal Election Commission records. The rotation of bartenders appears to be playing to their VIPs, frequently stopping to check in on the McGeachins and their daughter. A member of the Idaho Liberty Dogs, a right-wing citizen group, stands guard with a holstered handgun, walkie-talkie and earpiece at a campaign rally for Lt. Gov. Idaho attorney general won't support it", "Supreme Court rejects Republican attack on Biden victory", McGeachin becomes 7th candidate to file preliminary paperwork for run for governor in 2022, "Donald Trump endorses McGeachin for Idaho governor", Lt. Gov. Hamilton, however, prefers to keep the focus of McGeachins candidacy on her credentials. But I think its important that we stand strong.. Janice McGeachin walks down the front steps of the Idaho State Capitol building, with her husband Jim, prior to taking the podium to announce her run for Governor, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. They dont know who this is.. Sami Edge/Idaho Education News (UPDATED: Oct. 19, reflecting the death of Pete Coulson from COVID-19.) Id say shes more withdrawn today, Winder, who supports Little, told the Statesman. Former Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney, a Republican, recently launched a political action committee with the support of a dozen retired members of Idaho law enforcement to advocate against McGeachin for governor. Some lawmakers, including longtime friends, refuse to talk about her, or request to go off the record. [48], In July 2020, McGeachin condemned federal economic relief granted during the COVID-19 pandemic. To Montana the shot buyer offers to his group of new best friends. [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. Its just the impact that it has on my family is not easy all the time, because they have to deal with the fallout, and our employees have to deal with that. He has scored some big wins,.