Brad Little

Bradley Jay Little (born February 15, 1954) is an American politician serving as the 33rd Governor of Idaho since January 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from 2009 to 2019. Little served in the Idaho Senate from 2001 to 2009 where he chaired the majority caucus and represented Legislative Districts 8 and 11 (change due to redistricting in 2002).[1] He won the 2018 gubernatorial election against Democratic nominee Paulette Jordan,[2] the seventh straight gubernatorial victory for the Republican Party in Idaho.

This article is about the politician. For the actor, see Brad Little (actor).
Brad Little
33rd Governor of Idaho
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
LieutenantJanice McGeachin
Preceded byButch Otter
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
In office
January 6, 2009 – January 7, 2019
GovernorButch Otter
Preceded byJim Risch
Succeeded byJanice McGeachin
Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 11th district
In office
December 1, 2002 – January 5, 2009
Preceded byPatti Anne Lodge
Succeeded byMelinda Smyser
Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 8th district
In office
May 24, 2001 – December 1, 2002
Preceded byJudy Danielson
Succeeded bySkip Brandt
Personal details
Born (1954-02-15) February 15, 1954
Emmett, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Teresa Little
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Idaho (BS)
Signature
WebsiteGovernment website

Early life and education
Little at his 2011 inauguration, with U.S. Senator Jim Risch and their wives

Little was born and raised in Emmett, Idaho and graduated from Emmett High School in 1972.[3] He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow,[4] was a member of the Idaho Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity,[5][6] and earned a bachelor's degree in agri-business in 1976.

Career

Little has had an extensive dual career tending to his family's ranching interests (his grandfather was the "Idaho Sheep King")[3] and in public service. During the 1981 and 1985 legislative sessions, Little represented his father, David Little, in the senate on a temporary appointment due to illness, during which time he served on the Finance and Resources Committees.[7] Little also managed his family's ranching operation, Little Land and Livestock, for almost thirty years until his son, David, became manager in 2009 when Little was appointed lieutenant governor.[8] He continues to work as the head of Little Enterprises, Inc. (a diversified farming and cattle operation), and is currently a member of the board of directors of Performance Design Inc. – a small Boise-based manufacturing company.[8]

Little has also been involved in a variety of private organizations and companies based in Idaho and the Mountain West. Little is a former chairman of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI), "The Voice of Business in Idaho," and was a member of its board for twenty years (1981-2001).[9] Little is also the former vice-chairman of the Idaho Community Foundation and the Emmett Public School Foundation, and the former director of the Idaho Wool Growers Association and the University of Idaho Foundation.[8][10][11] He has also served in the past on the board of directors of Home Federal Bank, a small Idaho-based regional bank recently acquired by Bank of the Cascades, High Country News, and the Idaho Foundation for Excellence in Education.[12][13]

State Senator (2001–2009)

Little was appointed by Governor Dirk Kempthorne to fill a state senate vacancy in May 2001, and represented what was at the time District 8, which covered a part of Gem County surrounding and north of Emmett, and all of Boise, Valley, and Adams counties, and the southern portion of Idaho County.[14][15]

Following a change in district boundaries due to redistricting in 2001–2002, Little was elected in the fall of 2002 to District 11, which then encompassed all of Gem County and the northern portion of Canyon County, including the communities of Middleton and Parma.[16][17]

Little was subsequently reelected senator from the 11th legislative district four times.[18][19][20]

Little was also elected in 2003 by his Republican peers to the party leadership position of Majority Caucus Chair, which he held until 2009.[21]

Committee assignments
  • Agricultural Affairs 2002
  • Resources and Environment 2002
  • State Affairs 2003-2009
  • Resources & Environment 2003-2009
  • Transportation 2003-2009
  • Economic Outlook
  • Revenue Assessment

State Senator from District 11: 2002 results[22][23]

Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 3,865 72.1 Mike Pullin 1,498 27.9
Republican Party Votes Pct Independent Votes Pct
Brad Little 8,478 76.2 John Steinebach 2,646 23.8

State Senator from District 11: 2004 results[24][25]

Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 3,402 65.00 Steven Thayn 1,398 26.71 Walter Bayes 434 8.29
Republican Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 13,533 100.00

State Senate from District 11: 2006 results[26][27]

Republican Party Votes Pct Constitution Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 10,090 77.05 Jared Eastley 3,006 22.95

State Senate from District 11: 2008 results[28][29]

Republican Party Votes Pct Independent Votes Pct
Brad Little 14,870 77.5 Kirsten Faith Richardson 4,309 22.5

Lieutenant Governor of Idaho (2009–2019)
Little presiding over the Idaho Senate in 2011

Appointment, election and reelection

In January 2009, Governor Butch Otter appointed Little to the office of Lieutenant Governor to fill the vacancy left by former Lt. Governor Jim Risch's election to the U.S. Senate in the 2008 election cycle. Little was sworn in by Otter on January 6, 2009, and confirmed by unanimous consent when the Idaho Senate convened on January 12, 2009.[30][31]

Little was subsequently elected Lieutenant Governor in 2010, defeating two opponents in the primary election, and two opponents from the Democratic and Constitution parties in the general election.[32][33] He was re-elected Lieutenant Governor in 2014.

Lieutenant Governor of Idaho: 2010 results[34]
Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 95,758 67.6 Joshua Blessinger 26,808 18.9 Steven Dana Pankey 19,096 13.5
Republican Party Votes Pct Democratic Party Votes Pct Constitution Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 299,979 67.8% Eldon Wallace 120,174 27.2% Paul Venable 22,007 5.0%
Lieutenant Governor of Idaho: 2014 results[35]
Republican Party Votes Pct Republican Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 96,780 66.8 Jim Chmelik 48,099 33.2
Republican Party Votes Pct Democratic Party Votes Pct Constitution Party Votes Pct
Brad Little 271,268 62.8% Bert Marley 141,917 32.9% David Hartigan 18,705 4.3%

Economic development and trade missions

Little focused on economic development as lieutenant governor,[36] for example helping to persuade energy bar producer Clif Bar & Company to build a new food manufacturing plant in the state in 2013.[37]

Little also took part in and led several trade missions. He led a Friendship Mission to Basque Country in Spain in 2010, during which he met President of the Basque Government Patxi López. During this meeting, Little and López agreed to establish a Basque Economic Development Office in Boise, Idaho, which "would provide resources and services for Idaho and Basque companies to ease collaboration on research, sales and collaborative programs."[38] Little later signed the Euskadi-Idaho Friendship Agreement, which affirms the friendship and cultural affinity between the Basque Country and Idaho, which is the residence of the largest Basque community outside of Spain itself.[39]

Little was also a member of a 2011 Idaho trade delegation which traveled to Mexico and Brazil.[40] Little commented after the trade mission that "we found tremendous interest and opportunities in both countries for Idaho products and services … This trip strengthened key trade relationships and established new customers for Idaho businesses." The Idaho Department of Commerce estimated that the mission resulted in sales of more than $30 million.[41]

Legislation

In the 2014 legislative session, Little sponsored Senate Bill 1354, an anti-"patent troll" bill. The bill protects companies from abusive or "bad faith assertions of patent infringement" to collect an extortionate licensing fee.[42][43][44]

Governor of Idaho (2019–present)

2018 election

In June 2016, Little announced his candidacy for the Idaho gubernatorial election in 2018.[45][46] He said that Idaho National Laboratory will be a priority if he becomes governor.[47]

Little was endorsed by incumbent Governor Butch Otter,[48] former governors Dirk Kempthorne and Phil Batt, and U.S. Senator Jim Risch.[49]

During his campaign, Little called for a phased-in $350 million reduction in the state income tax and the elimination of the Idaho grocery tax.[50]

Little won the Idaho Republican Party primary, beating both Congressman Raúl Labrador and businessman Tommy Ahlquist with 37.3% of the vote.[51] In the general election in November, he defeated state Representative Paulette Jordan, the Idaho Democratic Party nominee,[52] by over 130,000 votes.

In March 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Little gained attention for signing two bills into law that targeted the rights of transgender individuals.[53] The first bans transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports, citing possible unfair physical advantages. The second bill, HB 509, bans transgender people from changing the sex on their birth certificates, and violates a federal court ruling from 2018.[54][55][56]

Idaho gubernatorial elections: 2018
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2018 Paulette Jordan 231,081 38.2% Brad Little 361,661 59.8% Bev "Angel" Boeck Libertarian 6,551 1.1% Walter L. Bayes Constitution 5,787 1.0%
Idaho Gubernatorial Republican primary election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Little 72,518 37.3
Republican Raúl Labrador 63,460 32.6
Republican Tommy Ahlquist 50,977 26.2
Republican Lisa Marie 3,390 1.7
Republican Steve Pankey 2,701 1.4
Republican Harley Brown 874 0.4
Republican Dalton Cannady 528 0.3
Total votes 194,448 100.0

Personal life

Little married Teresa Soulen of Weiser in May 1978, and they have two sons and five grandchildren.[8]

References
  1. "Idaho's Lieutenant Governor". lgo.idaho.gov. 2018-05-14. Archived from the original on 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  2. Almukhtar, Sarah (2018-05-15). "Idaho Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  3. Shadduck, Louise (1990). Andy Little: Idaho Sheep King. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. ISBN 0-87004-340-4.
  4. "Students". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1973. p. 152.
  5. "Phi Delta Theta". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1973. p. 234.
  6. "Phi Delta Theta". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1974. p. 245.
  7. "The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  8. Brad Little for Idaho, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Emmett Public School Foundation / Emmett Public School Foundation". Emmettschools.org. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  12. "Terms of Service Violation". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  13. "Ex-HCN board member named Idaho lt. guv". Hcn.org. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "2004 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  19. "2006 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  20. "2008 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  21. Brad Little for Idaho, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2014-07-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "2002 Primary Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  23. "2002 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  24. "2004 Primary Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  25. "2004 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  26. "2006 Primary Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  27. "2006 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  28. "2008 Primary Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  29. "2008 General Results legislative". Sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  30. KBOI 2, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2014-08-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2014-08-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2014-08-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. "Election Center". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  34. Election Division, Office of the Idaho Secretary of State, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2012-10-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. Election Division, Office of the Idaho Secretary of State, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2017-04-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. "Idaho Officials Move at the Speed of Business". Bxjmag.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  38. "Home - Idaho Freedom Foundation". idahoreporter.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  39. Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. "Idaho Trade Mission Results In Promising Leads". Opb.org. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  41. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2014-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  43. Little, Amy Lombardo and Lt. Gov. Brad (21 March 2014). "'Patent Troll' bill will protect Idaho businesses". Idahobusinessreview.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  44. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2014-08-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. "Brad Little, Idaho's governor-in-waiting, commits to 2018 run". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  46. "Lt.Gov. Brad Little raises $340,000 for Idaho governor's race in 2018". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  47. "Little says INL would be priority". Post Register. 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  48. "Gov. Otter officially endorses Brad Little for governor | Community". Idahostatejournal.com. 2018-04-10. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  49. Category: politics (2018-05-06). "Little gubernatorial campaign announces endorsements". Idahopoliticsweekly.com. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  50. "Little on taxes: 'I've got a concrete plan because I've been here, I've listened'". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  51. "Statewide Totals". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  52. "Report Declaration". sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  53. https://www.hrc.org/blog/amid-global-pandemic-idaho-governor-brad-little-prioritizes-and-signs-anti
  54. https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/20/idaho-transgender-birth-certificate-law-hb509-transphobic-lambda-legal/
  55. Rose, Andy; Silverman, Hollie. "Idaho Governor Signs Two Bills that Limit the Rights of Transgender People". CNN.com. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  56. "Idaho Governor Signs Into Law Anti-Transgender Legislation". NBCNews.com. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Risch		 Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
2009–2019		 Succeeded by
Janice McGeachin
Preceded by
Butch Otter		 Governor of Idaho
2019–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Butch Otter		 Republican nominee for Governor of Idaho
2018		 Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Mike Pence
as Vice President		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Idaho		 Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jay Inslee
as Governor of Washington		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Idaho		 Succeeded by
Mark Gordon
as Governor of Wyoming
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