Terri Pickens has entered the race for Idaho governor as a Republican candidate ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
A fourth-generation Idahoan born and raised in eastern Idaho, Pickens is challenging the state’s current leadership from within her own party. She criticized Governor Brad Little and the Republican-dominated Legislature for prioritizing culture war issues over fundamental freedoms.
Pickens pointed to personal consequences of recent legislative actions, stating that her daughter was deterred from living in Idaho due to laws affecting personal liberties.
“If Idaho isn’t what it was to me for my whole life, for my kids, then I can either leave or change it,” Pickens said.
Economic and Housing Platform
Pickens identified housing affordability and the general cost of living as the two primary components of Idaho’s affordability crisis. She argued that large tax breaks provided to wealthy citizens have negatively impacted middle- and lower-income residents, including those who lost access to Idaho’s child tax credit.
The candidate claimed that hedge funds purchasing affordable housing stock have priced out first-time homebuyers. To address these issues, Pickens plans to eliminate the state tax on groceries.
Pickens also intends to restore services that were cut after Governor Little signed a $450 million tax relief package into law. She stated that the tax break eliminated revenue necessary for fully funded public education and full access to Medicaid.
Public Lands and Education
Beyond economic policy, Pickens outlined plans to restore faith in the Idaho Land Board and prohibit the selling of public lands. She also pledged to protect women’s rights to reproductive healthcare.
Pickens brings decades of experience in advocacy and navigating the political process as a certified mediator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern California and received her law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1998.
“We used to be able to rely on taking care of our neighbors [without the] Legislature letting us down in the governor’s office,” Pickens said.