[42] During the pandemic, McGeachin repeatedly criticized Little for taking steps (such as closing physical businesses) to prevent the spread of the disease. McGeachin and her husband, Jim, also own the wholesale automotive parts supplier store Idaho Transmission Warehouse, which has two Idaho locations, as well as a torque convertor remanufacturing. She protested at rallies, in direct violation of the orders, before showing up to the reopening of a brewpub in North Idaho that defied the governors requirements. Among their favorite ski resorts are Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole, both in Wyoming near the Idaho border, and Sun Valley, where the family also owns a home just south of Ketchum. A cadre of Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group with links to white supremacy, also stalked the grounds. Brian Myrick / Idaho Press. "[38] Little said that McGeachin's order "unilaterally and unlawfully" forbade local officials from determining public-health policies in their own jurisdictions and would have forbidden the state from enforcing protective measures for social workers from making home visits to at-risk patients, or for employees in state testing labs. Who is Janice McGeachin Husband? "[32] The president-elect of the Idaho School Boards Association resigned from McGeachin's task force a week after its first meeting, writing that the task force seemed aimed at "partisan campaigning. One more for prosperity.. When he announced his run for president in 2015, she listened to his entire speech and knew instantly she wanted to support him, she said. [68] While addressing a crowd of fellow Republicans at a campaign appearance, McGeachin criticized the Boise Police Department and Boise State University for holding a conference to study right-wing extremism, and said of Anthony Fauci (the U.S. government's top infectious disease scientist): "we'll lock him up. Inscribed with the words, Slay Girl Slayyy, the oblong, aluminum pendant was a birthday gift from Hamilton, her friend and a Republican candidate for state House District 12 in Nampa. But the seat also is viewed as a stepping stone for the states next governor, with five of Idahos past seven governors, including Little, 68, having served as second-in-command. He spoke about the forgotten man in this country and how the government in Washington, D.C., was too beholden to the corporations and the special interests and that we needed to return the government back to the people, McGeachin said. [83], McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary[84] and the general election. Throwing her hat in the ring for governor, McGeachin appealed to Trump for his endorsement over Little. [74] In the voter pamphlet, she contended, "The federal government has become too restrictive in how we teach our kids, manage health care, build our roads and manage our resources. [41][38][50] McGeachin issued the order without consulting Little,[38] and against the wishes of state health officials who had sought a statewide mask mandate,[51] which Idaho has never had. appears in video slamming virus rules, whether 'a pandemic may or may not be occurring', Idaho Lt. I was hoping that he would see the virtue of keeping it in place, she said. Thats exactly the sentiment behind it just get it done, girl.. It makes me feel good that both Jimmy and I have created a life for them that they want to be close to their parents, McGeachin said. McGeachin herself donned a mask at times around the Capitol during a statewide peak of COVID-19 from the delta variant, telling the Statesman she did so out of respect for others who were there. After years in the local Rotary Club and Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, McGeachin made her first run at elected office in 2000, in the Republican primary for Bonneville County commissioner. McGeachin told The New York Times that Trump called her the day after she defended the former president in a June 2021 appearance on Fox News commentator Tucker Carlsons TV show, and she slipped in her intent to challenge Little during the conversation and asked for Trumps support. She committed, however, to accepting the results of the states May primary, believing voting irregularities in Idaho where Trump won big were not large scale. [31] The Idaho Statesman editorial board described the effort as "a manufactured witch hunt" driven by the "far-right fringe of Idaho's politics. The Janice McGeachin for governor campaign displays signs and pamphlets that prominently show former President Donald Trumps endorsement. Lt. Gov. He has scored some big wins,. Clearly the campaign believes its an important credential to highlight, she added. Idaho Statesman reporters Ian Max Stevenson and Ryan Suppe contributed. Some lawmakers, including longtime friends, refuse to talk about her, or request to go off the record. The McGeachins had their first child, a daughter, the year after they married. Littles staff never returned her umpteen-million phone calls, she said. Brad Little wins GOP primary over Trump's pick, Lt. Gov. Around town, its known more colloquially as the Cowboy Church. A federal district court later shot down the practice in 2011, the Associated Press reported. Sometimes they refer to us as being extreme for our views, McGeachin said, before reading a quote from the late Republican U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater. [37] Separately, McGeachin's attorneys billed her almost $17,000 to defend her in the records lawsuit; McGeachin said in 2022 that the public did not pay for these legal fees. They dont know who this is.. Amid a deluge of partisan cheerleading, anti-LGBTQ speech and Trump worship from invited speakers, Idahos lieutenant governor took hold of the mic. In each case, Little returned the next day and rescinded McGeachins order, calling the first instance an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt.. After an onslaught of negative attention tied to the AFPAC event, including calls for her to resign, McGeachin responded by chastising the media a common target of her contempt, including consistent use of the phrase fake news media popularized by Trump. [22] She opposes abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control. Governor Janice McGeachin posed with and then posted on Facebook pictures she had taken with two members of The Three Percenters. He founded the congregation, according to its website, after he went on a solo, three-day horseback ride through five Idaho counties to connect with God and receive his guidance. [72] She concluded her term as lieutenant governor on January 2, 2023. The two got more serious when she moved back to their hometown. So when women especially conservative women try to get involved in this, we need to have encouragement as much as we can., Jennifer Curtiss, of Nampa, left, poses for a photo with Idaho GOP vice chair Machele Hamilton, center, and Lt. Gov. McGeachin is advocating for a nationwide audit of each states voter rolls as part of her gubernatorial platform, and also elimination of all mail-in ballots in Idaho elections. McGeachin not only listened to her and other parents, Henry said, but also their children. "[6] She accused the Biden administration of seeking to indoctrinate schoolchildren in "Marxist, socialist ideology" and believes that Idaho should promote "state sovereignty" by rejecting federal funds for a variety of programs. In the past, shes advocated for a sex education opt-in bill and has decried Common Core standards, at one point saying curriculum and textbook providers use Common Core to recommend pornographic books for use in schools, EdNews previously reported. Idaho is one of 20 U.S. states that has never had a female governor. But in some legislative races, outside political groups might have played a bigger and more far-reaching role. She met her husband, Jimmy McGeachin, while she was in high school and he attended college at the University of Idaho, she said. Trump calls her just about every other week to inquire about the campaign, she said. Janice McGeachin fined $750 over public record violations, Lt. Gov. She said she supports marriage between a man and a woman, as outlined by Idaho's Constitution, despite the fact that gay marriage became legal by federal law in a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2015. Janice McGeachin and her husband, Jim, stand on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol as she announced her run for Governor in Boise on May 19, 2021. Janice McGeachin does not do that.. James Wilson first appeared through internet searches to be a controversial North Idaho evangelist who authored a book applying tenets of warfare to strategic evangelism, but he is not, McGeachins chief of staff Jordan Watters wrote by email May 27. Heres what we know about the members so far: Anna Miller, from the Idaho Freedom Foundation, is an active voice in education policy discussions. [74] She opposes Medicaid expansion and was a leading opponent of 2018 Proposition 2, an initiative to expand Medicaid coverage to about 62,000 Idahoans. But shes a hard worker for what we stand for maintaining our republic. Will that be a really impactful endorsement, or not really a defining kind of factor in determining outcomes? She argued, however, that her actions did not violate the governors restrictions, because her pub also includes a restaurant. She more often drops into one in the Wood River Valley, she said, and another, more worship-based congregation in Idaho Falls called Watersprings Church. The task force, aimed at rooting out alleged teachings on social justice, critical race theory, socialism, communism, (and) Marxism from public schools, is co-chaired by McGeachin, running for governor in 2022, and Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, who entered the race for lieutenant governor. The committee was premised on the notion that "the scourge of critical race theory, socialism, communism, and Marxism" was "infiltrating" the Idaho school and college system. . She was inspired to enter the race to help address the communitys rapid growth, and what she felt was a lack of planning to go with it, McGeachin recalled. Shes marvelous. Its not all about I am woman, hear me roar, she said. To Montana the shot buyer offers to his group of new best friends. Janice McGeachin presented her 10-point gubernatorial platform for her first 100 days in office during a press conference on the Idaho Capitol steps in March. Each rode the Make America Great Again wave under former President Donald Trump that propelled a number of far-right candidates into office. Elaine King previously ran for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 34, which covers the Rexburg area, in 2018, but lost in the Republican primary. We need you, youre a fighter, she said, spurring McGeachin to dash on stage to embrace her booster. Conservative Republican & Principled America First Warrior who always stands up for individual rights [18] In the voter pamphlet she wrote, she hoped to help the governor "by increasing our freedoms and liberties, free from the bonds of excessive government regulations. A spokesperson for Little said staff has no record or recollection of Henry contacting the governors office. McGeachin, through a campaign spokesperson, declined a follow-up request from the Statesman for comment about her churchs positions on same-sex marriage and the LGBTQ community. Pete Coulson worked as a coach and counselor for children. The state has also paused vendor payments from McGeachin's office, and McGeachin has told state officials to withhold her salary and benefits to avoid a budget shortfall. She unsuccessfully challenged Little in the Republican primary for governor in the 2022 election. Members continue to include an Idaho Freedom Foundation employee and a charter school leader who pushed to use the Bible in public schools. Janet Adams is a retired Coeur dAlene lawyer. Wearing a black Stetson, Brown looked out onto the congregation filled with people of all ages and launched into a 40-minute lesson from the Book of Revelation about where to put ones faith, and how to prepare for judgment. In 2012, she and her family . Sami Edge/Idaho Education News A day after announcing she will run for governor in 2022, Lt. Gov. She went on to defeat Democratic candidate Kristin Collum in the general election with nearly 60% of votes. Idaho Lt. Gov. We will restore health freedom and end the threat of medical tyranny. McGeachins family businesses, particularly the pub, have become targets for harassment, she said, on account of her political ideology. | Sami Edge, Idaho Education News. He left the school in 2010 and has worked as a teacher and school administrator since, according to his LinkedIn page. Beck is not sure how McGeachin made the connection to Trump, he said, but she did it all on her own. Janice McGeachin's association with extreme, anti-law enforcement factions has prompted them to oppose her run for governor. Grace Panetta and Nicole Gaudiano May 17, 2022, 8:00 PM - Idaho Lt. Gov. The Foundation stirred upheaval in this years legislative session over leftist indoctrination in the classroom, an effort that stalled education budgets. He wondered aloud whether the change is because she no longer feels supported by the state GOP, or because the majority of lawmakers are more in line with Little. As a man in the audience yelled a vulgarity about Little referencing the female anatomy, drawing laughter from the crowd, McGeachin accused the incumbent governor of losing touch with Idaho values, and turning his back on residents during the pandemic. | Kevin Fixler, kfixler@idahostatesman.com. And thats whats not fair., Lt. Gov. Janice Kyes McGeachin ( / mi.n /; born January 18, 1963) [1] is an American far-right [2] [3] [4] politician and businesswoman who served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 2019 to 2023. She also has sparked controversy over her repeated interactions with fringe, extremist and racist figures. Janice McGeachin is the lieutenant governor of the State of Idaho. Following a stint in Arizona, the family moved to Idaho Falls when she was a child after her father took a job at the Idaho National Laboratory, the nuclear energy research hub run by the federal government. [70] Little won re-nomination with 52.81% of the vote, with McGeachin receiving 32.24% of the vote, Edward R. Humphreys receiving 10.96% of the vote, and an assortment of minor candidates receiving the rest. Hes my best friend, my strongest supporter, and my partner in life, she said. ), Beck and his wife, Lynn, each contributed campaign maximums to McGeachin for the primary, according to Idaho secretary of state records, as well as tens of thousands of dollars more to several far-right candidates, political action committees and the Republican National Committee. Idaho Lt. Gov. She courts people who use intimidation and violence to terrorize other people, said Raney, who retired after a decade as sheriff in 2015. The McGeachins are known for frequenting their pub. Janice McGeachin walks down the front steps of the Idaho State Capitol building, with her husband Jim, prior to taking the podium to announce her run for Governor, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Their son followed three years later. Two weeks before Idahos primary election, McGeachin stepped onto an outdoor stage on a Wednesday evening in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park in Meridian for a rally in her honor. [43] In August 2020, McGeachin headlined a rally organized by the right-wing, conspiracist John Birch Society at the rally in Twin Falls, where speakers decried public health measures to combat the coronavirus. The family who drinks together stays together, right? the bartender says. Shes touted her business acumen as a reason why shes qualified, said David Roth, former chair of the Bonneville County Democratic Party, now running to challenge U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, in November. Among her longtime supporters, McGeachin counts Doyle Beck, a retired construction company CEO and conservative political activist who also is a fierce backer of Trump. McGeachin. Janice Kyes McGeachin (/mi.n/; born January 18, 1963)[1] is an American far-right[2][3][4] politician and businesswoman who served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 2019 to 2023. Joseph Kren was the principal at Priest River Lamanna High School through last spring, when he left the school after 34 years in Idaho education. | Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com, If you ask the kids, Henry told a small crowd gathered during a fundraiser at a Caldwell-area winery, the very best day that they had last year, it was the one day that she (issued) the executive order for them to go to school without a mask. The room erupted in cheers and applause, as one attendee shouted, FREEDOM!. The pastor of the Cowboy Church, Scotty Brown, looks the part. Those arent the types of invites she gets from her old colleagues anymore. First, in May, she banned mask mandates by state and local authorities while Little was attending a Republican Governors Association conference in Tennessee. The federal government has become too restrictive in how we teach our kids, manage health care, build our roads and manage our resources."