A Message from the Chair: Republican Politicians Talk Tough. But When It Matters, They Chicken Out.

It takes real strength to fight for the people you serve. But today’s Republican Party has abandoned that idea completely. From Washington to Boise, they’ve replaced courage with performance, loud declarations of “toughness” that vanish when real leadership is required. Too afraid to step out of line, they cast votes that leave Idaho worse off.

Take Governor Little. He used to oppose school voucher schemes. But once out-of-state special interests started pouring enough money into Idaho elections, he changed his tune. He tried to hedge, offering tepid support with “parameters.” But when a reckless, unaccountable voucher bill reached his desk, he signed it.

He warned Idahoans that the state budget was stretched thin and urged lawmakers to proceed with caution. Days later, he turned around and celebrated permanent tax cuts three times deeper than he said we could afford. He knew it was irresponsible, but went along with it anyway to stay on the right side of party insiders.

Then came the House budget, packed with devastating cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. Little initially opposed it, admitting it would hurt Idaho families. But almost immediately, he flipped and endorsed it.

And what’s in that House budget? The largest handout to the ultra-rich in a generation. A green light for unchecked artificial intelligence at the expense of American workers. Provisions designed to help the Trump regime ignore court orders, including one that blocks his job-killing tariffs. Some Republicans claim they didn’t know what was in the bill. That’s a lie. They would have voted for the dumpster fire of a budget anyway, because they’re terrified of stepping out of line.

Republicans in the Statehouse are just as spineless. Terrified of being targeted by far-right PACs, they let kids go hungry during the summer, and working families lose the child care access they need to stay on the job. They chase headlines with out-of-state culture war bills instead of ensuring that a full day’s work in Idaho means you can put food on the table.

The power behind today’s Republican Party is built on fear. Fear of backlash. Fear of primary challengers. Fear of telling the truth. But fear is not leadership.

Real strength looks like every Idaho Democrat in the Legislature, outnumbered, who still stands up to say: This is wrong, and we will fight like hell to change it. And no amount of smear campaigns from political operatives in Texas or Florida will change that.

Idahoans deserve leaders who show up, speak hard truths, and fight for the people who sent them there. That’s the kind of leadership Idaho Democrats bring to the table.

The tough talkers have had their chance. Now it’s time for leaders with real backbone.

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Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair