Idaho General Election · November 3, 2026Find polling place
Republican

Brad Little

Brad Little

Governor

Brad Little, Republican incumbent and candidate for Governor of Idaho

Brad Little, a Republican, is the incumbent Governor of Idaho and a candidate in the November 3, 2026 general election. He filed on February 24, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State lists the filing as approved. In the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, he received 140,709 votes (58.96%) to 68,711 (28.79%) for Mark Fitzpatrick, with six other candidates, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's certified results.

Background

The governor's official biography says Little is an Emmett native who was raised on his family's sheep and cattle ranching operation. It says he graduated from the University of Idaho in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and has worked in the ranching industry for his entire professional life. It also says he has extensive experience in the Idaho banking and manufacturing industries.

The biography says he first served in public office in 2001, when he was selected to fill a Senate vacancy, and was then elected to four consecutive terms in the Idaho Senate. It says he became Idaho's 37th lieutenant governor on January 6, 2009, and has served as Idaho's 33rd governor since January 7, 2019.

Election history

According to the Idaho Secretary of State's election database, Little won the November 6, 2018 general election for governor with 361,661 votes (59.8%) to 231,081 (38.2%) for Democrat Paulette Jordan.

He won re-election on November 8, 2022, with 358,598 votes (60.5%). Democrat Stephen Heidt received 120,160 votes (20.3%) and independent Ammon Bundy received 101,835 (17.2%).

Endorsements

President Donald Trump endorsed Little for re-election on Truth Social on June 10, 2025. His post said: "Brad Little is the strong and highly popular Governor of Idaho, a State I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!" It ended: "Brad Little has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!" Trump posted another endorsement on May 18, 2026, the day before the primary.

The Idaho Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Firefighters of Idaho endorsed him, according to Idaho Education News, which reported on April 29, 2026, that his campaign announced the endorsements.

The Idaho Statesman's editorial board endorsed him in the Republican primary on May 15, 2026, and also criticized some of his decisions. Its comments appear below.

Taxes

Little signed House Bill 40 on March 6, 2025, according to the Idaho Legislature. The bill lowers the income tax rate. The House passed it 63-7 and the Senate 27-8. The governor's office said the law reduces the income tax rate for individuals and businesses from 5.695% to 5.3%.

Education

Little signed House Bill 93 on February 27, 2025, creating the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit, according to the Idaho Legislature. The House passed it 42-28 and the Senate 20-15. Idaho Education News reported on February 5, 2026, that the five-member Idaho Supreme Court unanimously agreed that challengers failed to show the credit violates the constitution's mandate that the Legislature fund public schools.

The Idaho Education Association's president, Layne McInelly, said in an April 2026 statement about House Bill 516, a bill on teachers' unions: "They feel his choice to sign House Bill 516, when there were so many reasons to veto it, is a betrayal of his claims to be a supporter of Idaho's educators and public schools." Idaho Education News reported that Little lost the union's support that month.

Little responded in an email to Boise State Public Radio: "We have made significant improvements by increasing state support for education by nearly 70 percent since I took office, including major gains in teacher pay and benefits."

What supporters say

The Idaho Statesman's editorial board wrote on May 15, 2026: "Among the field of Republican candidates, Little stands head and shoulders above the rest." It also wrote: "Regardless of our criticisms, Little is still the best person for the job."

What critics say

The Idaho Statesman's editorial board wrote in the same endorsement: "While he touts Idaho as leading the nation in per-capita tax relief, we point out that $5 billion in tax cuts and rebates over the past several years have gone too far and have proven to be an impediment to achieving some of his stated goals." It also wrote: "He also had an opportunity to veto a teacher union-busting bill that treats teachers unions differently from the way other public government unions are treated, such as police and firefighter unions."

Idaho Education Association spokesperson Mike Journee told Boise State Public Radio: "There's a lot of soul searching going on among our members about whether or not Governor Little truly is a pro-public education advocate."

The Deseret News reported on May 19, 2026, that Little's campaign focused on "a record of historic tax cuts, deregulation initiatives and school choice" and that "Fitzpatrick has focused his criticism of Little on illegal immigration."

Campaign finance

The Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine campaign finance system showed contributions of $2,327,940.75 and expenditures of $1,447,279.32 for the 2026 cycle on October 2, 2026. Sunshine's top-contributor list showed ten contributors at $10,000 each: Idaho Power, the Idaho Association of Realtors, Bennett Lumber Products, Clearwater Paper, the Idaho Bankers Association, Boatique Bouthouse Collection LLC, KF Hodges Operations LLC, Findlay, McAlvain Companies and Wali Investments. The profile also lists outstanding debt of $400,000.00.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported on October 2, 2026, that Little had raised the most of any statewide candidate in Idaho for the 2026 cycle, at $2,309,940 as of September 30.

Sunshine showed $1,045,486.72 in cash on hand.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated October 2, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Brad Little running for?
He is the Republican incumbent seeking re-election as Governor of Idaho in the November 3, 2026 general election. He has served as governor since January 7, 2019, according to the governor's official biography.
How did Brad Little do in the 2026 Republican primary?
He won the May 19, 2026 primary with 140,709 votes (58.96%) to 68,711 (28.79%) for Mark Fitzpatrick, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's certified results.
Has President Trump endorsed Brad Little?
Yes. President Trump endorsed Little for re-election in a Truth Social post on June 10, 2025, and posted another endorsement on May 18, 2026, the day before the primary.
What did Brad Little sign on income taxes in 2025?
He signed House Bill 40 on March 6, 2025. The governor's office said the law reduces the income tax rate for individuals and businesses from 5.695% to 5.3%.
What is the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit?
It is a tax credit created by House Bill 93, which Little signed on February 27, 2025. The Idaho Supreme Court unanimously rejected a constitutional challenge to it on February 5, 2026.
Why did the Idaho Education Association criticize Brad Little?
The union's president said Little's decision to sign House Bill 516 was a betrayal of his claims to support Idaho's educators and public schools. Little replied that state support for education is up nearly 70 percent.
Who has endorsed Brad Little for 2026?
President Trump, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police and the Professional Firefighters of Idaho have endorsed him, and the Idaho Statesman's editorial board endorsed him in the Republican primary.
How much money has Brad Little raised?
Idaho Sunshine showed $2,327,940.75 in contributions for the 2026 cycle on October 2, 2026, with $1,447,279.32 spent and $1,045,486.72 in cash on hand.