Idaho Gov. Brad Little Wins GOP Gubernatorial Primary

Idaho Gov. Brad Little gestures during a press conference at the Statehouse in Boise, Idaho on Oct. 1, 2020. (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman via AP)

EAGLE, Idaho—Incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little is the projected winner of Idaho’s May 17 primary out of eight candidates.

Unofficial election results placed Little far ahead of his two leading Republican opponents, receiving 54 percent of the vote just with 84 percent of counties reporting at 3:35 a.m. May 18.

Trump-endorsed incumbent Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin placed a distant second, receiving 31 percent of the vote. Political newcomer Ed Humphreys garnered nearly 12 percent after a hard-fought grass-roots campaign.

“I respect the will of Idahoans. They felt strongly about our current governor being re-elected, so I can only honor that,” Humphreys said during an informal election-watch gathering at Two Rivers Clubhouse in Eagle, Idaho.

“Everybody knows we worked the hardest—hands-down. I took my case to the people and let the people decide. You can’t give any more than your absolute best,” he told The Epoch Times.

“The political machine that corporate America has built is very powerful. We got to see it at work.”

Asked if he planned to run again in 2024, Humphreys replied, “No, I’ve got a family to raise.”

Republican candidate for Idaho Governor, Ed Humphreys, watches early prinary election results at an informal gathering in Eagle, Idaho on May 17. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

Trailing the Republican pack were Steven Bradshaw with just under 2 percent of the vote, Ashley Jackson with 1.13 percent, and Cody Usabel with .20 percent.

In his post-election address, Little thanked his Republican supporters and vowed to “continue as your governor serving the state of Idaho” both “in good times and in bad times.”

Little criticized Democrats for their “flawed handling of everything,” saying he would continue “fighting against overreaching” by the government in Washington. He described the divergent views among Idaho’s Republicans as “one of our strengths.”

“We need to keep our eyes on the prize—the bigger picture,” Little said. “The rest of the country is watching.”

The McGeachin campaign was unavailable for comment regarding Tuesday’s election results.

Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin speaks during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho on March 6, 2021. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

On the Democratic side, Stephen Heidt is the projected winner of his party’s nomination by an overwhelming 79 percent of the unofficial vote against write-in candidates.