Idaho Political History & Voting Patterns
R-leaning since 1960s; extremely red since 1990s. A complete guide to how Idaho has voted in presidential elections, which coalitions have driven results, and how the state has shifted over time.
Historical Overview
Idaho is among the most Republican states in the nation, defined by its LDS Mormon population in the southeast, its rural agricultural and timber economy, and its libertarian anti-government tradition. Democrats have not won a statewide office since Cecil Andrus left the governor’s mansion in 1990. Boise has grown into a tech hub attracting liberal transplants from California, and Ada County is now genuinely competitive, but rural Idaho overwhelms any urban Democratic gains. Idaho’s politics are more defined by intra-Republican conflict between traditional conservatives and Trump-aligned MAGA activists than by Democratic opposition.
Key Elections & Turning Points
| Year | Significance |
|---|---|
| 1964 | LBJ barely won ID in his 44-state landslide |
| 1990 | Cecil Andrus — last D governor |
| 1996 | Dole won ID |
| 2006 | Republicans swept everything despite national D wave |
| 2022 | Brad Little won GOP primary vs. Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (Trump-backed) |
| 2024 | Trump +32 |
Geographic Voting Patterns
Democratic Strongholds
Ada County (Boise) — competitive; Latah County (Moscow — University of Idaho)
Republican Strongholds
All 44 other counties; Bonneville/Madison (Idaho Falls, BYU-Idaho) are R+60+
Realignment Driver
Primary factor: LDS church culture, rural libertarian tradition, anti-federal land sentiment