GOP chairman Luna sees Boise’s ‘socialist agenda’ as rallying cry for Idaho Republicans
The new chairman of the Idaho GOP is calling for party unity amid the political divisions brought on by the pandemic, finding a “rallying cry” in the politics emanating from the state’s capital city.
“...Our biggest threat is not our fellow Republicans,” said Tom Luna, the former state schools superintendent and new Idaho GOP chairman. “But it is the liberal, socialist agenda of the Democratic Party, that has been well stated and presented in the mayor’s plan that she put out here in Boise just a few months ago. That is going to be a rallying cry for the Republican Party, not just here in Ada County and the city of Boise, but across the state.”
Luna, elected chairman last month during the Idaho GOP Convention in Nampa, inherits a state party with growing fractures and faultlines, as members often in lockstep spar over Idaho’s response to the coronavirus.
Much of the animus has focused on Idaho Gov. Brad Little and state health officials. In the months since the pandemic began, conservative representatives joined “Disobey Idaho” protests against Idaho’s stay-at-home order, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin publicly challenged Little’s decisions and Republican leadership demanded the state turn the management of the virus over to local leaders and health districts — something Little has actively worked toward.
For his part, Luna believes Little has done a “stellar job” managing the pandemic in Idaho. But he also said the divide, internal friction and “finger pointing” in the Idaho GOP didn’t originate with coronavirus.
“There is an opportunity to unite the party in a way that will help us focus on those things that we have in common and not spend time and energy on those things that we don’t have in common,” Luna said.
Opposition to Boise politics drives goal of reclaiming Treasure Valley seats
The end of Luna’s two-term tenure as state superintendent was marked by intense debate over a Students Come First education reform package, which Idaho Education News reported would have given every student a laptop and paid educators based on student performance. Lawmakers passed the measures in 2011 — which critics called the “Luna Laws” — but voters repealed them November 2012. Luna, now a Caldwell resident, didn’t run for reelection in 2014.
The 2020 Idaho GOP Convention was Luna’s second run for state GOP chairman, as former U.S. Rep Raul Labrador defeated Luna in 2018 by two votes. This year’s election was also close, with Luna defeating Bonneville County Republican Chairman Mark Fuller by only 12 votes.
At both the convention and again in a July interview with the Idaho Statesman, Luna said winning legislative and local government seats in the Treasure Valley would be a priority for the party. The GOP lost both House seats in west Boise’s District 15 in the last election cycle’s “blue wave,” Republican Sen. Fred Martin only narrowly maintained his seat after a recount, and the Ada County Board of Commissioners lost its Republican majority. Ousted lawmakers pointed to the Ada County Republican Party’s lackluster fundraising and focus as a reason for the losses.
Luna said the Treasure Valley’s rapidly growing population wasn’t the only reason for a focus on the region ahead of the November 2020 election. A strident opposition to the brand of Democratic politics exemplified by a report Idaho conservatives called the city of Boise’s “socialist wishlist” was imperative, Luna said.
The wishlist is a report created by one of Boise Mayor Lauren McLean transition teams and recommended a series of progressive initiatives like making Boise a sanctuary city or providing free abortions and reproductive health care to city residents.
“What every Idahoan needs to understand is that if we don’t stop this trend in Ada County, Boise is going to become the next Seattle and Ada is going to become the next King County,” Luna said, noting how some conservative or rural Washington residents feel they have little impact on their state’s politics.
McLean, who is facing a recall effort related to the report, declined to comment through a spokeswoman, who said the mayor “remains focused on creating a city for everyone.” McLean has repeatedly said the report was not a policy document, but simply one of several recommendations made by transition teams.
Boise City Council President Pro Tem Holli Woodings pushed back on Luna’s characterizations Tuesday, calling claims of a Boise agenda focused on anything but creating a safe, vibrant city for families, “fear tactics.” Idaho would be worse off without Boise’s outsized contribution to the state’s economy and GDP, Woodings said, driven by many Boise policies.
“If Mr. Luna wants more Republican control of our local politics, I’d like to point out that Boise already has its hands tied by the majority Republican Legislature,” Woodings wrote in an email to the Idaho Statesman. “For example, we’re unable to deliver on the basic services our citizens ask for like a robust public transit system because of Republican policies limiting direct funding and local control.”
Party growth, reclaiming key seats in November
Luna, a father of six and grandfather to 16, said the same passion for the younger generation he said made his tenure as state superintendent the highlight of his career is what compelled him to serve as party chairman.
House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakely, said he looked forward to collaborating with him to advance the Idaho Republican Party.
“He is an old-school Republican, and I think that’s what the party needs,” Bedke said. “I think he’ll effective in getting grassroots support in the Treasure Valley.”
Bedke and Luna said the party won’t just be focusing on the Treasure Valley. Winning legislative seats in traditional Republican strongholds like Pocatello in Bannock County or purpling regions like Moscow and Latah County is also essential.
Luna also plans to increase the party’s general outreach efforts, especially with Idaho newcomers. The GOP may hold the majority of power nearly everywhere in the state outside of Boise, but Idaho’s rapid growth and influx of new residents doesn’t necessarily mean a future grip on state power is certain.
“The facts are that Idaho is one of the fastest growing states in the country — and that math doesn’t work for us long term,” Luna said. “We need to grow the party, and we need to be very aggressive in introducing ourselves to the new residents of Idaho.”
