OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
2:33 PM – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Idaho Governor Brad Little has a third term in his sights after winning the crowded Republican gubernatorial primary election.
On Tuesday, Little (R-Idaho) defeated seven challengers in his race with 59% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
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Little will now face Terri Pickens, a public defender and the founder of Pickens Law, P.A., who won the Democrat primary election with 61% of the vote on Tuesday.
Last year, President Donald Trump gave Little his “complete and total endorsement for re-election,” promising that he would fight “tirelessly to Champion Idaho Values, Promote our Great Farmers and Ranchers, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Help Secure our now VERY Secure (Record Setting!) Border, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.”
The governor ran his re-election campaign largely on deregulation, school choice and tax cuts.
Little’s political career began in 2001 when served as a member of the Idaho State Senate. He previously served as lieutenant governor from 2009 until his election as governor in 2018.
In the state’s 1st House district, incumbent Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) won his primary with 78%. The Trump-backed GOP nominee will continue on to face off against farmer Kaylee Peterson, who won the Democrat primary with 87% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.
In House District 2, incumbent Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who was also previously supported by Trump, won the GOP primary with 63% of the vote. He now runs against lawyer Ellie Gilbreath, who won the Democrat primary election with 72% of the vote on Tuesday.
Idaho does not have a term limit for its governor, allowing Little to continue to run for his office until voted out.
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