In an interview, Todd Achilles, a former Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Idaho as an independent, outlines his reasons for leaving the Democrat party and his key policy concerns. Achilles states he is running due to his concern for the country’s direction, which he attributes to a “broken two-party system.” He cites what he calls corruption in the Democratic party and the overwhelming influence of tech monopolies as catalysts for his decision to run as an independent. When it is suggested that this move is a political calculation to be more electable in a heavily Republican state, Achilles insists his goal is to form an independent caucus in the Senate. He believes that by denying a majority to either party, such a caucus could force action on issues like campaign finance reform and term limits.
Achilles discusses his involvement promoting Proposition 1, an initiative for open primaries and ranked-choice voting, admitting that the coalition behind it did a poor job communicating its benefits. A major point of contention arises from his statement that it has become “too hard to live in Idaho.” The hosts challenge this by pointing to the state’s rapid growth, but Achilles clarifies he is referring to the 60% of working Idahoans who do not earn a livable wage, not the retirees moving in. This leads to a debate on healthcare, where Achilles argues that large, profitable corporations like Walmart have a responsibility to provide insurance for their employees rather than shifting the cost to taxpayers through programs like Medicaid. The hosts counter that healthcare is an individual’s responsibility, not an employer’s obligation beyond paying an agreed-upon wage.
