A former Idaho Supreme Court justice and the owner of the Old State Saloon in Eagle have named campaign treasurers in the race for Idaho governor.
Ex-Supreme Court Justice John Robert Stegner and Mark David Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon in Eagle, both declared campaign treasurers in the last week.
The race is getting crowded, but the fundraising game hasn’t changed. Twelve people have declared campaign treasurers as of Thursday. One month ago there were seven. Naming a campaign treasurer is typically a precursor to filing to run. The filing period is Feb. 23 to 27.
Of the 12, seven are Republicans, three are Democrats, one is Libertarian and one is unaffiliated.
All fall short of Gov. Brad Little’s war chest. He has raised $1.21 million for the 2026 election, started with $188,000 from the previous cycle and has spent $174,000. His campaign has $1.22 million in the bank.
Only two other candidates have reported campaign contributions in Idaho Sunshine, Idaho’s campaign finance data website. Democrat Terri Pickens of Pocatello has raised $57,000, and Twin Falls democratic socialist candidate Maxine Durand has raised $3,208. Durand was an unaffiliated candidate but released a video on Jan. 30 stating she is running as a Democrat.
Some updates from the two new possible contenders:
- Stegner declared a campaign treasurer on Jan. 29. He is unaffiliated.
- Stegner retired from the state’s highest court in October 2023.
- In his resignation letter, he cited the pay disparity between Idaho Supreme Court justices and private practice: “The job requires extraordinary hours to do it well. In sum, the state is asking judges to do too much for too little,” he wrote.
- Stegner confirmed to the Lewiston Tribune on Tuesday that he plans to run for governor.
- Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon in Eagle, declared a campaign treasurer on Wednesday. He is a Republican.
- Fitzpatrick hosted the “Hetero Awesome Festival” in June to celebrate traditional family values and provide an alternative to the Boise Pride Festival.
- KTVB reported that far-right podcaster David Reilly said at the event that Boise was a clean city and whispered, “There’s not a lot of Black people.” Fitzpatrick distanced himself from the remark.
- Boise police provided extra security to Mayor Lauren McLean in December after Fitzpatrick offered a bounty for incriminating information on the mayor, the Idaho Statesman reported.
- On Thursday, Fitzpatrick posted on X: “It is TIME for righteousness and truth to take back this NATION! After tomorrow… massive amounts of money will be thrown at defaming me. I wonder why?”
- In a text message on Thursday afternoon, Fitzpatrick told EdNews there will be “an announcement of some sort” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Old State Saloon.
