Terri Pickens at the Newstalk 107.9 Studio
Credit: Newstalk 107.9
In an interview on Newstalk 107.9, Idaho Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terri Pickens outlined her campaign priorities and addressed key state policy issues ahead of the upcoming election against Republican incumbent Brad Little and independent candidate John Stegner.
Pickens pointed to growing voter frustration over economic affordability, emphasizing that middle-class families in Idaho face severe cost-of-living pressures. To address rising costs, Pickens advocated for eliminating the state’s grocery tax, arguing that the legislative majority has failed to provide relief to working families while offering tax incentives to large corporations rather than the small businesses that drive the local economy. On property taxes, she argued that local levies should not fund public education, asserting that the state legislature is constitutionally obligated to fully fund public schools.
Education funding proved a major point of discussion, with Pickens expressing strong opposition to House Bill 93 and school voucher programs. She argued that public dollars should not fund private schools, contrasting the tax credit program with the Idaho Launch initiative, which she supported as a targeted workforce development tool. Pickens vowed to actively seek the repeal of the $50 million tax credit and redirect those funds back into public education.
Addressing state politics, Pickens dismissed claims from Stegner suggesting she might exit the race. She asserted that her grassroots campaign continues to gain momentum and predicted that Stegner’s candidacy would draw votes away from Little rather than from Democrats.
The interview hosted by Neal Larson and Julie Mason also touched on Proposition 1, the ballot initiative regarding reproductive healthcare. Pickens expressed support for restoring the Roe v. Wade standard for abortion access, arguing that medical decisions regarding viability should remain between patients and healthcare professionals rather than lawmakers. Regarding parental consent laws, Pickens acknowledged that while she values family trust, state policy must provide a safety net for minors in vulnerable situations where parental involvement may not be viable.
