Our endorsement in race for Idaho Senate between Tammy Nichols, Lori Bishop | Opinion
READ MORE
May 2024 primary endorsements
Check here for the Idaho Statesman Editorial Board’s picks in the May 2024 primary election.
Expand All
Idaho needs more people like Lori Bishop to step up and run for office. Bishop, a fifth-generation Idahoan from a small town and a lifelong Republican, would be a thoughtful, sensible legislator.
Bishop is challenging incumbent Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, for the District 10 seat that includes Middleton and rural parts of Canyon County.
The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorses Lori Bishop in the Republican primary for state Senate, District 10.
Nichols did not respond to our invitations to interview with the editorial board. But one look at the vitriol on her social media accounts shows that she’s an extreme antagonist who’s more interested in fighting culture wars against “wokeism,” demonizing “the Left,” vilifying public schools, and spreading conspiracy theories about the United Nations and librarians as “groomers” than she is in being a serious legislator.
To wit, last year, her first year as an Idaho state senator after years in the House, Nichols introduced a silly bill that would have criminalized administering an mRNA vaccine to “an individual or any other mammal in this state,” charging doctors with a misdemeanor for administering the COVID-19 vaccine along with other scientifically accepted vaccines, as well as farmers and veterinarians for administering vaccines to animals.
Nichols also sponsored legislation to provide school vouchers for families who don’t want to send their children to taxpayer-funded public schools and co-sponsored a bill to repeal voter-approved Medicaid expansion.
She’s not a serious legislator and does not represent the good people of her district.
Bishop offers a viable, pragmatic alternative to Nichols and would be a welcome refreshing change.
Her top priorities as a legislator would be public education, with an emphasis on “public,” especially funding school facilities, public safety, including increased law enforcement training, and improving infrastructure.
She said she opposes school vouchers, education savings accounts or tax credits for private education without accountability measures.
She supports the fentanyl mandatory minimum bill that passed this session, with a focus on stopping fentanyl trafficking while supporting treatment and rehabilitation for those addicted to fentanyl.
She said she’s glad Idaho hasn’t gone the way of other states and has kept marijuana illegal, although she would be open to considering medical marijuana legislation, as long as it had serious guardrails.
While she said she considers herself “pro-life,” she would like to see more clarity in Idaho’s abortion laws in cases of medical complications, decisions about which should be between a patient and their doctor.
She said she’s a strong proponent of local choice when it comes to issues such as the library book ban and bounty bill, and she hates to see laws that encourage neighbors suing neighbors. The same philosophy applies to allowing guns in schools and school policies regarding LGBTQ students.
She said she was disappointed that legislators this session turned down $16 million in federal money for a summer food program for students in need, rightly pointing out that the decision will hurt mostly rural students.
Bishop said she’d like to work with Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield on a new funding formula for public education and supports shifting the burden of building new schools off property taxes with more state funding. She also supports reducing the supermajority requirement for passing bonds.
This editorial board does not agree with Bishop on some of the issues, but she has done her homework, knows the issues well and articulates her positions clearly. She has prepared for this race by talking to other elected officials, such as House Speaker Mike Moyle and Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, to inform herself of the issues.
Bishop is a mother of six, grandmother of two, a lifelong Republican who grew up in rural Idaho, and she is active in her church and in her local schools.
“I spend a lot of time in my community at different events and with my neighbors and friends and have just led the traditional lifestyle, which I would say includes kindness, and includes support for education and support for families and I’ll continue to do that,” Bishop told the editorial board.
Bishop is supported by the Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho, the Idaho Grain Producers Association, the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association, the Idaho Cattle Association, the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, the Idaho Potato Industry, the Idaho Medical Association, among others.
Come on, District 10 voters. You can do better than Tammy Nichols. Bishop is the clear choice.
This story was originally published May 13, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we write endorsements
Who decides the endorsements?
Members of Idaho Statesman editorial board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is composed of journalists and community members. Members of the Statesman editorial board are: Statesman editor Chadd Cripe, opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members John Hess, Debbie McCormick and Julie Yamamoto.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Statesman editorial board meets with political candidates and asks them a series of questions about policy issues. The editorial board discusses the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. The editorial board generally will not endorse a candidate who does not agree to an interview with the board members.
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well-prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats. We make recommendations about who the best-qualified candidates for these jobs are.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of the Statesman’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
Do I have to vote for the candidate the Statesman endorses?
Of course not. An endorsement is just our recommendation based on the candidates’ backgrounds and their answers to editorial board questions.
Can I disagree with the Statesman’s endorsement?
Of course you can. We encourage voters to do their own research and choose the candidate who best represents your views.
Want your say?
Readers are encouraged to express their thoughts by submitting a letter to the editor. Click on “Submit a letter or opinion” at idahostatesman.com/opinion.
Want more opinions each week?
Subscribe to The Idaho Way weekly email newsletter, a collection of editorials, columns, guest opinions and letters to the editor from the Opinion section of the Idaho Statesman each week. You can sign up for The Idaho Way here.
