For Immediate Release from the Idaho Freedom Caucus
The Idaho Senate Republican Caucus says they’ve reached 60% support for a special session on the presidential primary. However, it’s crucial to emphasize they achieved this number by relying on the unanimous support of every Senate Democrat. In other words, without the backing of the Democrats, they would have fallen significantly short of the required 60%. This situation has exposed noticeable divisions within the Senate Republican Caucus because they couldn’t secure sufficient support from their own members.
Establishment Republicans consistently partner with liberal Democrats to drive legislation in the Senate, a worrisome trend for Idaho conservatives. This troubling pattern doesn’t serve the interests of Idahoans, who expect their elected representatives to champion conservative values and principles and not do the bidding of the radical Democrats. It raises questions about the true motivations behind these legislative efforts and whether Senate leadership is working to serve their own interests or the interests of the people of Idaho.
Moving the primary to May will relegate Idaho to the sidelines of the presidential nominating process. History shows that candidates are almost certainly chosen before May, meaning our primary won’t have a say in shaping the party’s nominee.
The last time a May primary had any relevance was back in 1980.
By delaying the primary to May, Idaho becomes irrelevant, with candidates bypassing our state as they seek delegate support in earlier primaries. Idahoan’s voices will be silenced as they cast meaningless votes in a May presidential primary.
The IDFC urges the Idaho House of Representatives to weigh these concerns seriously when considering signing onto a special session to decide on a May presidential primary bill. Idaho’s relevance in the presidential nominating process should not be sacrificed for the sake of convenience or cost.
Senate Republican leadership, under Senate Pro Tempore Winder, is demanding Idaho taxpayers waste $30,000 a day on a special session for a decision the Idaho Republican Party has already made. The caucus will not cost Idaho taxpayers anything.
The Idaho Freedom Caucus supports the Republican Party’s plan for a March 2 Caucus, which will bring presidential candidates to Idaho and ensure Idahoans have a voice in the nomination of our next president.
