Idaho GOP Platform Responses

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Survey and Interview Responses

How long have you lived in Idaho?

As a fourth-generation Idahoan, I was born and raised my family here.

How long have you been a Republican? Any prior party affiliation?

I have always been a proud member of the Republican Party! From being involved as a young Republican in high school to serving our state today.

Have you been involved with any political organizations (IACI, Idaho Majority Club, IFF< etc.)

I am on the Executive Committee of the Republican Secretary of State Committee. I’ve been supported by, and have spoken about elections, to many conservative political groups throughout the state. I would not consider myself a member of any specific Idaho political group other than the Republican Party.

Have you supported candidates from another party?

No.

Why are you running for this office?

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and we are just getting started. Idaho is already a national model for secure, transparent elections, from our paper-ballot system and post-election audits to bold innovations like our nationally recognized multi-agency election security program. Other states look to us because we’re willing to lead with confidence, openness, and integrity. I’ll keep building on that record of protecting Idaho’s elections, strengthening transparency and expanding access in government, and ensuring Idaho’s values remain at the heart of everything we do.

Have you held elected office before?

My career in elections began back in 2005, when I started as an Election Specialist in Ada County. I served in many election roles following. From 2019-2022 I served as the elected Clerk of Ada County. And, in 2022 I was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State, taking office January 3, 2023.

What makes you qualified for this role?

For nearly two decades, I have dedicated my career to protecting the integrity of Idaho’s elections and strengthening the systems that make our government accountable to the people. Serving as Idaho’s Republican Secretary of State has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I’m proud of the work our office has done to keep Idaho’s elections secure, transparent, and trusted.

What are your top priorities in your first year?

One of my top priorities has been strengthening election integrity. During my time in office, Idaho clarified voter ID requirements, banned ballot harvesting, verified the citizenship of more than one million registered voters, and ensured voting machines remain disconnected from the internet. We’ve also prioritized greater transparency in government. My office modernized Idaho’s campaign finance and lobbying systems, making it easier for citizens and journalists to track political spending and hold government accountable.

How have you served your community (boards, nonprofits, etc.)?

As Secretary of State, I serve on the Idaho Land Board, which oversees 2.5 million acres of state lands supporting Idaho’s public schools and communities. In that role, I’ve worked with ranchers, loggers, miners, sportsmen, and recreationalists to maximize our public lands now and for future generations. As the Finance Chair the Republican Secretaries of State Committee, I help raise money to support the election of Republican secretaries of state nationwide.

Fiscal conservative

Yes, I’m fiscally conservative. I believe government should live within its means just like families do. We must ensure every dollar is spent effectively. Fiscal discipline isn’t just good policy—it’s essential to protecting our economy, strengthening our future, and preserving opportunity for the next generation.

Social conservative

As a fourth-generation Idahoan, I believe deeply in the values that have made our state strong: limited government, personal responsibility, transparency, and respect for the rule of law. Those principles have guided my work as Secretary of State since the day I took office in 2022.

Give us your one-minute elevator speech for the campaign.

It is a privilege and honor to serve as your Secretary of State. Idaho is having a real moment nationally in the election space because of the upgrades we’ve made to our election systems. And, as I like to say, I’m just getting started.

What is your plan to advocate for your top priorities?

In advocating for my priorities, I think I’ve had a lot of success in this position pushing for better election systems. We’ve made numerous upgrades: we’ve massively improved the Sunshine system for campaign finance and lobbyist reporting to make it easier for candidates and PACs while making it far more transparent and easier to track the money. We’ve transformed VoteIdaho.gov into the essential one-stop shop for voting information. This year we successfully rolled out statewide online candidate filing for all offices, even precinct committee spots—a real game changer. We’re also streamlining business registrations to support our growing economy, and I continue advocating on the Land Board to protect our public lands now and in perpetuity. We’re just getting started.

What safeguards has Idaho implemented to protect its election systems from hacking or compromise—particularly electronic infrastructure—amid nationwide election integrity concerns?

Our broader Election Security Group—partnering with the FBI, CISA, Idaho State Police, National Guard, and public information officers—won a national award last year. They monitor everything from the power grid to cyber threats in real time from Gowen Field and coordinate nationally so we can respond instantly to any physical or digital threat on Election Day.

How will you ensure accurate voter rolls and that non-citizens are not voting?

We oversee the statewide voter registration system that every county must use. We cross-check regularly with Vital Statistics to remove deceased voters, verify driver’s license and citizenship data in real time through ITD, and monthly remove ineligible felons through the Department of Corrections. Under my tenure we fully integrated the federal DHS SAVE system to verify citizenship for every registered voter. That process flagged cases we turned over for prosecution, and we now check every new registrant automatically. Only eligible citizens vote in Idaho.

Given the high-cost of running elections, what ideas do you have for reducing costs?

Our office actually generates more revenue than we spend—we’re a net contributor to the state. Last year we returned $2.1 million in excess funds that offset taxes for other services. Business filings alone cover our elections work and more; we keep rates among the lowest in the country. With Idaho’s rapid growth, March set a new revenue record as new residents bring their businesses with them. We stay mindful of every tax dollar while focusing on the revenue side so we can deliver excellent service without asking for more from taxpayers.

What safeguards should exist for absentee and ballot handling?

Idaho requires voters to specifically request an absentee ballot, and clerks verify all information before mailing it—unlike states that automatically send ballots. When ballots return, we verify 100 percent of them by comparing signatures on the affidavit against your voter registration or driver’s license record using overlaid digital images before the envelope is ever opened. We reconcile every request against every returned ballot. After every primary and general election our audit team randomly reviews counties and precincts, including full absentee accounting, and publishes publicly available reports that allow voters to review the full process.

What improvements would you make to business and non-profit filing systems to reduce regulatory burden?

We’ve seen explosive growth—business filings jumped from 425,000 in 2020 to 650,000 last year, over 50 percent in five years. My focus now is upgrading the software to make filings even easier and more seamless while handling that volume. Idaho already gets high marks from the business community for simplicity compared to other states. Philosophically, the best government is the one you barely notice. Registering should be a quick, mandatory step that lets entrepreneurs open bank accounts and focus on building their companies, not wrestling with bureaucracy.

When misinformation or confusion about election procedures circulates, what role should the Secretary of State play in correcting the record and communicating clearly with voters?

We’ve stepped up to lead on this. In 2024 we hosted an election summit with county clerks, community leaders, realtors, and business owners to share exactly how Idaho runs secure elections. All county clerks and I stood on the Capitol steps and signed a public commitment letter outlining our 12 principles for voting that is easy, secure, and accurate—it’s posted on VoteIdaho.gov. We keep communicating through voter pamphlets, media appearances, and partnerships like the Ranch podcast. The job never stops; most people are busy living their lives, so we make sure clear, factual information reaches them when they need it.

What additional duties does the SOS hold that voters may not be aware of?

Most people focus on elections, but our office does much more. As Secretary of State I handle key ministerial duties—receiving every bill passed by the Legislature and every executive order signed by the Governor before they take effect. I serve on the Land Board protecting public lands, and I serve on Idaho’s America 250 Advisory Council, leading our state’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That work promotes civic engagement and helps build greater understanding of our history and government across Idaho.