More prominent Idaho Republicans announce support for this Democratic candidate
Dozens more Republicans this week announced that they’re supporting Tom Arkoosh, a Democratic Idaho attorney general candidate.
In 66 years affiliated with the GOP, Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston, said she’s never supported a Democrat.
“But this time is different,” Lodge said during a news conference at the Idaho Capitol on Tuesday. “This time, I’m looking for the qualifications, and I’m looking for the experience.”
Lodge, an 11-term senator who is retiring this year, is one of about 50 Republicans — many of them former office holders — who are publicly backing Arkoosh. A longtime Idaho lawyer, Arkoosh faces Republican Raúl Labrador in next month’s election for attorney general.
Labrador, an immigration lawyer from Nampa, board member for Central District Health and former congressman, handily defeated incumbent Lawrence Wasden in the GOP primary election. Several high-profile Republicans — including former attorneys general and a former secretary of state — rallied against Labrador’s candidacy, making claims that he would overly politicize the office, and joined Arkoosh’s campaign.
On Tuesday, Arkoosh added former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt, first lady Lori Otter and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jerry Evans, along with more than 20 former lawmakers, to his growing list of conservative supporters.
Otter, a real estate agent and former Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s wife, touted Arkoosh’s experience in water rights litigation and experience crafting policy with lawmakers and local officials.
“He’s not running for a political office,” Lori Otter said. “He’s running for a job as your attorney general.”
Butch Otter has not publicly expressed support for either candidate in the general election, but he endorsed Wasden in the GOP primary.
Evans, who served as state superintendent for 16 years, said in a news release that he “was pleased” with Arkoosh’s stance on public school vouchers. During a debate last week, the attorney general candidates were asked whether school vouchers — a form of public subsidy for private education — are constitutional. The Idaho Constitution prohibits the use of public money to support religious institutions, and some private schools have religious affiliation.
Arkoosh said vouchers would not pass legal muster, while Labrador promised to defend legislation that allows money to “follow students,” whether in public or private schools.
“Labrador ignored Idaho’s constitutional prohibition against using public money for religious schools,” Evans said in a news release. “A competent lawyer would know better.”
Conservative Republicans back Labrador
Labrador has drawn support from several prominent Republicans as well. In an emailed statement to the Idaho Statesman, Labrador noted that “more than 140,500 Republicans endorsed me” with their votes in May’s primary election.
“Since then, thousands of other Republicans, independents, and disaffected Democrats have expressed their support on social media, with digital contact, or in person as I campaign across Idaho,” Labrador said.
Arkoosh became a candidate “through a backroom deal,” Labrador said, and “he is continuing to campaign only for the insiders.” Idaho Democrats named Arkoosh their nominee after the primary election when then-nominee Steve Scanlin withdrew from the race.
“My campaign is not about backroom insiders,” Labrador said. “I am running to represent the people of Idaho by protecting their freedom, our state’s sovereignty, and our shared Idaho values.”
In August, former Idaho Attorney General and Lt. Gov. David Leroy, a Republican, endorsed Labrador. In a news release, Leroy said the former Idaho GOP chairman has earned the trust of lawmakers and that it’s the wrong time to elect a Democrat to the office that’s defending the state in a lawsuit brought by the Biden administration.
“He can help avoid courtroom losses that have been so costly to our taxpayers,” Leroy said.
Labrador also touts endorsements from out-of-state U.S. Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which has been a major donor in midterm elections nationwide.
Labrador has raised more than $870,000 in campaign donations. Among his donors are Doyle Beck and Brent Regan, board members of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and Frank VanderSloot, billionaire CEO of Melaleuca, an Eastern Idaho health product company, and an active Republican financier.
Arkoosh, meanwhile, has raised about $280,000, although he began fundraising in July. Arkoosh has raised about $93,000 per month, while Labrador has raised about $80,000 per month since November.
This story was originally published October 11, 2022 at 4:40 PM.
