Thad Butterworth

Thad Butterworth – ACRCC Chairman

Thad Butterworth is a perennial candidate in Idaho politics, known more for his repeated electoral failures than any real political success. Despite multiple attempts to gain public office, including a failed 2022 run for Idaho State Senate District 21 and an unsuccessful bid for the College of Western Idaho Board of Trustees, Butterworth has struggled to gain traction with voters. His campaigns have largely echoed the talking points of the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), a far-right political machine notorious for pushing misinformation and extremist policies under the guise of “freedom.”

Thad Butterworth has ingratiated himself with the IFF network, aligning with its agenda of attacking mainstream conservatives and pushing policies that benefit out-of-state special interests rather than Idahoans. His role as the Ada County Republican Party chairman has only further cemented his reputation as a pawn for IFF-backed candidates and initiatives. Whether through opinion pieces in the Idaho Dispatch—a propaganda arm of IFF—or his public support for restrictive ballot initiative thresholds, Butterworth consistently parrots the organization’s priorities.

Despite his repeated electoral losses, he remains a loyal foot soldier in IFF’s ongoing effort to radicalize Idaho politics, prioritizing ideological purity over practical governance.