Governor of Idaho

Statewide — all of Idaho

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

Incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little is seeking a third term.[1][2]
Republican primary (May 19, 2026): Little won renomination with 58.96% of the vote, ahead of Mark Fitzpatrick (28.79%) and six other candidates.[10]
Democratic primary (May 19, 2026): attorney Terri Pickens won with 61.42%, ahead of Jill Kirkham (16.96%), Maxine Durand (14.54%) and Chanelle Torrez (7.09%).[10]
John Stegner, a former Idaho Supreme Court justice, is running as an independent. Libertarian Paul Sand and Constitution Party nominee Pro-Life (a legal name change from Marvin Richardson) hold their parties' ballot lines. Jacob Burnett is a declared independent write-in candidate and will not be printed on the ballot.[1][3][11]
Idaho's Proposition 1, a ballot initiative on abortion rights, is also on the November ballot, and the candidates were asked about it in the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide.[3]

On the ballot · 6 candidates

Brad LittleRINCUMBENTGovernor of Idaho (since 2019)Full profile →Terri PickensDAttorney; 2022 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governorFull profile →John StegnerINDMediator; former Idaho Supreme Court justice (2018–2023)Full profile →Paul SandLIBFull profile →Pro-LifeConstitutionFull profile →Jacob BurnettINDFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
Supports[3]
Supports Proposition 1, the ballot initiative to end Idaho's abortion ban.
John Stegner
—
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
Mixed[3]
Supports abortion access through the first trimester with exceptions, says he does not oppose Proposition 1's broader rights provisions in principle but does not support removing all limits or oversight, and says he would respect the result if voters pass it.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
In their own words[12]
“For me, there won't be any 287(g) agreements for us to be having these discussions as to how we can support and train these folks.”
At the Oct. 6, 2026 League of Women Voters of Idaho forum, per Idaho Capital Sun
John Stegner
In their own words[12]
“I would not have entered into the agreement with ICE had I been the governor”
At the Oct. 6, 2026 League of Women Voters of Idaho forum, per Idaho Capital Sun, on the state's 287(g) agreement
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
—

Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
—
John Stegner
—
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
In their own words[3]
“I'd also enforce rent regulations tied to actual property upkeep/direct value”

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
In their own words[3]
“The State can find ways to speed the housing construction process by adjusting rules for builders and developers.”
In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide
John Stegner
—
Paul Sand
In their own words[13]
“We do not want low-income housing developments, we do not want data centers and more outsiders moving in, period.”
In the Idaho Capital Sun 2026 primary voter guide (May 2026)
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
In their own words[3]
“I don't think the answer is simply building faster, much of our shortage has been driven by speculative, out-of-state investment and large-scale development that prioritizes corporate profit over resident ownership.”
In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
In their own words[3]
“I will revisit those cuts for billionaires and re-fund the services, such as schools, rural hospitals, roads and bridges, and community policing”
In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide, on the 2026 budget cuts and tax cuts
John Stegner
—
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
—

Expand public health coverage

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
Supports[12]
Said at an Oct. 6 forum that her first budget would restore Medicaid expansion.
John Stegner
Supports[3]
Says he would support legislation to reinstate Medicaid access to those who recently lost it.
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
—

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

Brad Little
—
Terri Pickens
Opposes[3]
Wants to repeal the state's private education tax credit.
John Stegner
Opposes[3]
Supports repealing the private-school tax credit, saying it diverts about $50 million from public education.
Paul Sand
—
Pro-Life
—
Jacob Burnett
Supports[3]
Supports keeping Idaho's private education tax credit.

ISSUE	Brad Little R	Terri Pickens D	John Stegner IND	Paul Sand LIB	Pro-Life Constitution	Jacob Burnett IND
Protect legal access to abortion	—	Supports[3] Supports Proposition 1, the ballot initiative to end Idaho's abortion ban.	—	—	—	Mixed[3] Supports abortion access through the first trimester with exceptions, says he does not oppose Proposition 1's broader rights provisions in principle but does not support removing all limits or oversight, and says he would respect the result if voters pass it.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	—	In their own words[12] “For me, there won't be any 287(g) agreements for us to be having these discussions as to how we can support and train these folks.” At the Oct. 6, 2026 League of Women Voters of Idaho forum, per Idaho Capital Sun	In their own words[12] “I would not have entered into the agreement with ICE had I been the governor” At the Oct. 6, 2026 League of Women Voters of Idaho forum, per Idaho Capital Sun, on the state's 287(g) agreement	—	—	—
Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections	—	—	—	—	—	In their own words[3] “I'd also enforce rent regulations tied to actual property upkeep/direct value”
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	—	In their own words[3] “The State can find ways to speed the housing construction process by adjusting rules for builders and developers.” In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide	—	In their own words[13] “We do not want low-income housing developments, we do not want data centers and more outsiders moving in, period.” In the Idaho Capital Sun 2026 primary voter guide (May 2026)	—	In their own words[3] “I don't think the answer is simply building faster, much of our shortage has been driven by speculative, out-of-state investment and large-scale development that prioritizes corporate profit over resident ownership.” In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	—	In their own words[3] “I will revisit those cuts for billionaires and re-fund the services, such as schools, rural hospitals, roads and bridges, and community policing” In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide, on the 2026 budget cuts and tax cuts	—	—	—	—
Expand public health coverage	—	Supports[12] Said at an Oct. 6 forum that her first budget would restore Medicaid expansion.	Supports[3] Says he would support legislation to reinstate Medicaid access to those who recently lost it.	—	—	—
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)	—	Opposes[3] Wants to repeal the state's private education tax credit.	Opposes[3] Supports repealing the private-school tax credit, saying it diverts about $50 million from public education.	—	—	Supports[3] Supports keeping Idaho's private education tax credit.

Research notes & limits

Idaho elects its lieutenant governor separately; there are no running mates. Little did not respond to the Idaho Capital Sun questionnaire, so his positions rest on bills he signed. Ballotpedia was blocked from this environment (bot challenge). Primary results come from the Idaho Secretary of State's official canvass report. The Secretary of State's general-election candidate list could not be loaded (the VoteIdaho.gov candidate-list page still shows the 2024 list and no 2026 file was found; county sites were checked without finding a sample ballot); the slate (Little, Pickens, Stegner, Sand, Pro-Life) rests on the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide, the Wikipedia race page and The Green Papers (which tracks Secretary of State filings), and Green Papers lists Burnett as an independent write-in. Little's pre-2019 legislative votes were not researched. Pickens has no campaign website found in this research pass. The slate is also consistent with the Idaho Capital Sun's May 28, 2026 post-primary roundup (Little, Pickens, Stegner, Sand, Pro-Life).

Sources · 42

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

1.2026 Idaho gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
2.Brad Little · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
3.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
4.House Bill 93 (2025) — Idaho parental choice tax credit · Idaho State Legislature · 2026-10-19 Official record
5.Gov. Little signs the Medicaid Reform and Cost Containment Act · Office of the Governor of Idaho · 2026-10-19 Official record
6.Gov. Little signs his “Leading Idaho” income tax relief bill · Office of the Governor of Idaho · 2026-10-19 Official record
7.House Bill 345 (2025) — Medicaid state plan amendments and waivers · Idaho State Legislature · 2026-10-19 Official record
8.Priorities · John Stegner for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
9.Brad Little for Idaho · Brad Little for Idaho · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
10.Primary Election May 19, 2026 — Canvass Report · Idaho Secretary of State · 2026-10-19 Official record
11.Idaho 2026 General Election · The Green Papers · 2026-10-19 Reference
12.Pickens, Stegner pledge policy changes in Idaho gubernatorial candidate forum · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
13.Governor - Libertarian Party | Voter Guide: 2026 primary election · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
14.Libertarian Paul Sand runs for Governor for second time · BYU-Idaho Radio · 2026-10-19 News report
15.Brad Little · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
16.House Bill 93 (2025) — Idaho parental choice tax credit · Idaho State Legislature · 2026-10-19 Official record
17.Gov. Little signs the Medicaid Reform and Cost Containment Act · Office of the Governor of Idaho · 2026-10-19 Official record
18.Gov. Little signs his “Leading Idaho” income tax relief bill · Office of the Governor of Idaho · 2026-10-19 Official record
19.About Governor Brad Little · Idaho Office of the Governor · 2026-10-19 Official record
20.2026 Idaho gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
21.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
22.Idaho Governor Candidate Q&A: May Primary Election · KIVI (Idaho News 6) · 2026-10-19 News report
23.Idaho governor's race: Pickens, Stegner say they are in it to win it · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
24.Democrat Terri Pickens announces bid for Idaho governor's office · Sandpoint Reader · 2026-10-19 News report
25.Pickens sees path to Idaho governorship · Moscow-Pullman Daily News · 2026-10-19 News report
26.John Stegner for Governor · John Stegner for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
27.John Stegner · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
28.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
29.Priorities · John Stegner for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
30.Independent John Stegner launches campaign for Idaho governor · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
31.Former Idaho Supreme Court Justice eyes governorship · Coeur d'Alene Press · 2026-10-19 News report
32.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
33.2026 Idaho gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
34.Paul Sand · Paul Sand campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
35.About Me · Paul Sand campaign website · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
36.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
37.2026 Idaho gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
38.Idaho governor's race: Pickens, Stegner say they are in it to win it · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
39.ProLife Idaho - Vote by Principle! · ProLife Idaho · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
40.Idaho governor — 2026 General Election Voter Guide · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report
41.Idaho 2026 General Election · The Green Papers · 2026-10-19 Reference
42.Pickens, Stegner pledge policy changes in Idaho gubernatorial candidate forum · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-10-19 News report