Brian Keene
I am a southern Idaho native, having grown up on a dairy farm and graduated from Meridian High School. My educational background includes undergraduate studies at Boise State University (BSU) and the University of Utah, culminating in advanced degrees, including a PhD, from the University of Idaho.
My career involved significant service: 40 years in public education and 32 years in the U.S. Army Reserve (7 years active duty, 25 years reserve, including service in two wars), from which I am now retired. I currently serve as an adjunct math instructor at the College of Southern Idaho.
Idaho GOP Platform Responses
✓+ Strongly Agree ✓ Somewhat Agree O Somewhat Disagree X Strongly Disagree
| Topic | Candidate’s Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| ✓+ | Responsibility in Government | I equate responsibility in government with accountability, which is also my TOP priority. |
| ✓+ | Citizen Involvement | I thoroughly support the idea of citizen involvement in government. I am in the process of publishing videos to motivate college students to register and vote. |
| ✓+ | Education | Education is the key to personal participation in our state and national economy. I have served over 40 years in public education and even post-retirement am still teaching part time at the College of Southern Idaho. |
| ✓+ | Agriculture | I grew up farming. Our state depends on agriculture, small businesses, and outdoor recreation. These are the pillars of our community, and they deserve our protection and our support. |
| ✓+ | Water | My response to this question closely mirrors my response to the question of water. Proper water management supports both our farms and our fishing, not to mention our cities and towns that need water as well. |
| ✓+ | Natural Resources / Environment | Idaho boasts some of the world’s most beautiful mountains, rivers, and lakes. Tourism is vital to our economy, and I want my family to always experience the pristine natural features that are a treasured part of my childhood memories. |
| N/A | Energy | To ensure national security, we must achieve energy independence and end reliance on foreign oil. We must develop alternative energy sources while preserving current ones. Idaho’s hydroelectric power is a vital resource. We must defend our dams to maintain both affordable energy and crucial water management |
| N/A | Idaho National Lab | In addition to being a major employer, Idaho National Laboratories is involved in vital research and development in helping us to achieve and maintain energy independence. |
| ✓+ | Private Property Rights | This seems such a common sense issue, that I find it hard to believe that anyone would challenge the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment protection of individual property rights. |
| ✓+ | State / Federal Lands | Much of the current federally owned land in Idaho is undeveloped and should stay undeveloped for as long as possible. Putting it under state control with some federal funds but state decision making simply makes good sense. |
| ✓+ | Wildlife | Idaho tourism, especially hunting and fishing, is a key part of our economy and our pristine rivers, lakes, and mountains provide excellent habitat for wildlife. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game does an excellent job maintaining these resources. We must minimize federal interference with this vital habitat. |
| N/A | Economy | Our state depends on agriculture, small businesses, and outdoor recreation. I’m proposing a Stable Maintenance and Responsible Taxation (SMART) Amendment to establish a fair and equitable tax code which respects small businesses, family farms, and the middle class. |
| ✓ | Health and Welfare | Access to healthcare and affordable insurance are major concerns for Idahoans and for much of the nation. We need to continue exploring viable alternatives to the Affordable Care Act, but am hesitant to support throwing out the existing plan until we have developed a better one. |
| ✓ | American Family | Although I fully support the idea of traditional marriage and responsible parenting, I have concerns about our wording on the Right to Life. I think reasonable abortion restrictions should be determined with more input from doctors with regards to viability and to mother’s safety. Healthy mothers and healthy babies should be our primary concern. |
| ✓+ | Older Americans | I firmly agree that older Americans should be able to decide for themselves if they want to continue working. |
| ✓+ | Law & Order w/ Justice | I fully support accountability for criminal offenses, including the death penalty (where appropriate), rehabilitation for offenses resulting from drug use, mental conditions, or lack of job training, and the use of labor both to reduce costs and to aid in rehabilitation. |
| ✓+ | Securing the Border | I support Article XVII (sections 1-4, 7-9) but object to Article 5’s enforcement. Idaho’s farm labor shortage is tied to reliance on migrant workers, including those from countries with high illegal immigration. Aggressive enforcement risks worsening this shortage. To properly enforce Section 5, the state must collaborate with the federal government to establish a faster, cheaper vetting process to distinguish legitimate laborers from criminals. |
| N/A | Election of Idaho Judges | Although I fully support this article, I don’t have any details prepared as it hasn’t been relevant to a federal campaign. |
| ✓+ | Religious Liberty | Both the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the First Amendment are specifically written to address this issue. I vow to do everything I can to protect religious liberty. |
Survey and Interview Responses
How long have you lived in Idaho?
I was 10 years old when my family moved here from Salt Lake City.
How long have you been a Republican? Any prior party affiliation?
I supported Republican candidates from a young age, including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. I later spent 2004–2012 registered as a Democrat, questioning the direction of the GOP. When realizing my values were misaligned with the Democrats, I re-registered as a Republican after retiring from the Army and moving back to Idaho.
Have you been involved with any political organizations (IACI, Idaho Majority Club, IFF< etc.)
No. I spent many years out of state and overseas while serving in the military.
Have you supported candidates from another party?
When I ran for the state assembly in Nevada, I ran as a Democrat. During that time, I had the opportunity to get to know several of the Nevada Democrats, including three of them who are currently serving in the US Congress. That experience and those acquaintances actually make me a better candidate in this election because if we lose the house, having someone there who knows how to work with and appeal to Democrats will be extremely valuable.
Why are you running for this office?
I’m running to restore accountability in all three branches of government, establish a stable and fair tax plan with a balanced budget, and defend human rights.
Have you held elected office before?
No.
What makes you qualified for this role?
With a PhD in Education Administration, I have extensive experience as a teacher, principal, and central office supervisor, developing skills in public engagement, controversial issue negotiation, tax-dollar budget management, problem-solving, and leadership. My post-doctoral certification in Emergency and Disaster Management and military background have equipped me to aid victims of fires, floods, and war in recovery and community rebuilding.
What are your top priorities in your first year?
My goals go back to my reasons for running: to restore accountability in all three branches of the federal government; to establish a stable, fair, and equitable long-term tax plan that maintains a balanced budget; and to do these while absolutely maintaining and defending human rights.
How have you served your community (boards, nonprofits, etc.)?
Fiscal conservative
Yes. I am fully committed to a stable, fair, and equitable long-term tax plan that maintains a balanced budget.
Social conservative
I am married with seven children and seven grandchildren. While some might consider me moderate, I strongly support foundational principles of religious and personal freedom, specifically the First and Fourteenth Amendments, which protect others’ rights to hold different beliefs and live their lives differently. This stance is also consistent with the Eleventh Article of Faith of my church.
Give us your one-minute elevator speech for the campaign.
I was born in Virginia, moved west young, and spent my teens working on a farm between Meridian and Nampa. I campaigned for Nixon before I could vote and cast my first ballot for Reagan. I briefly registered as a Democrat because I disliked where the GOP was heading, but Democratic policies didn’t match my ethics, so I returned to help restore the party. My campaign is about accountability—Congress has a 15% approval rating because we get nothing done
What is your plan to advocate for your top priorities?
My top priority is accountability through a stable tax plan and a balanced budget every year. The last Republican president to deliver both a balanced budget and a booming economy was Eisenhower. I’m proposing a constitutional SMART amendment (Stable Maintenance and Responsible Taxation) for a permanent tax plan and a balanced-budget amendment. Shift taxes higher on corporations and lower on family farms, small businesses, and the middle class. End the tax-cut bait-and-switch.
Where do you see harmful federal overreach in Idaho, and how would you return authority to states and local communities?
The 10th and 14th Amendments were designed to protect states’ rights and keep decisions close to the people. The federal government should handle its own duties, support states, and stay out of the way. Decisions belong at the most local level—individuals, schools, counties, then states. Federal involvement always makes things more expensive, more restrictive, and usually worse
What steps would you take to reduce federal spending, address debt, and restore fiscal discipline?
I will push the SMART amendment for a permanent tax plan and a balanced-budget amendment. Hold Congress accountable for actual budgets instead of endless emergency shutdowns and blame-shifting. Drawing from my emergency-management background, plan ahead and fix known problems proactively rather than reacting after they explode. Prevent crises instead of paying ten or twenty times more later.
What is your position on the SAVE Act and federal efforts to strengthen election integrity?
The SAVE Act is mostly grandstanding and unnecessary noise. Idaho and most states already require photo ID with address and proof of citizenship to register and vote. The real focus should have been strictly enforcing citizenship rules, not creating another fight. The way it was sold turned it into pointless conflict. I support election integrity, but this feels like theater.
How would you protect access to federal lands for grazing, timber, recreation, and resource use while supporting rural economies?
I grew up working on farms and strongly support family farms and grazing access, especially in smaller communities. Federal lands come with rules, but the state should make the decisions on grazing, water, and resources. BLM and the Forest Service should support Idaho, not dictate to it. We need real cooperation so rural economies aren’t harmed.
How do federal immigration policies impact Idaho, and what changes would you support to enforce laws and protect workers?
Idaho farmers depend on migrant workers—I grew up working alongside them. Speed up the legal immigration process with biometrics and an “easy gate” so we can track workers efficiently. Deport criminals and illegals immediately. Fix the legal system first so enforcement becomes straightforward and unquestionable
Do you support term limits for members of Congress?
Yes—six or eight years maximum, then come home. Mike Simpson has been in Washington too long and has forgotten Idaho’s needs (Columbia Basin Project is a prime example). Living in D.C. for decades disconnects representatives from the people they serve. Term limits bring fresh voices and real accountability
What is your stance on legalization of marijuana?
Because I am morally opposed to abuse of alcohol and drugs in any form, I am obviously morally opposed to the legalization of recreational use of marijuana. That said, I am not opposed to further medical study regarding prescription use of medicines which may be derived from the cannabis plant.
How will you stay accessible and responsive to your constituents?
I will post weekly videos from my district office explaining what I’m working on and asking for your input. I already use my YouTube channel and would expand it with staff help. Push for representatives to live full-time in their districts—Zoom works fine. Neighbors should be able to tell me every day what they think.
What question do you wish voters were asking—but aren’t?
I wish voters would ask hard questions of every candidate and officeholder—even those in their own party. Don’t assume agreement just because we share a label. When policies hurt Idaho families, farmers, or working people, demand real answers and hold us accountable regardless of party.