It's been a tough couple of years for advocates of public lands. Could the cause of conserving and protecting public lands be gaining public support in a staunchly conservative state?
Jimmy Tobias reports that the political pendulum might be swinging back in favor of public land and conservation advocacy in Idaho. According to Tobias, Idaho is home to some of the most "conservation adverse" politicians in the country, with a long list of legislative accomplishments to back up their political agenda.
"But, if recent primary elections are any indication, the political culture around conservation in Idaho may be shifting; the state delivered a two-part victory for public lands last week," reports Tobias.
The first "victory" came when Rep. Raúl Labrador lost in the Republican gubernatorial primary. "He lost the GOP primary on May 15th by five points to Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, a more centrist Republican who has expressed support for federal public lands," according to Tobias.
Second was a primary victory for Democrat Paulette Jordan, "the Native-American woman vying to become the state's first Democratic governor in decades. A 38-year-old state legislator and member of the Coeur d'Alene tribe, Jordan's political platform places heavy emphasis on protecting Idaho's public lands."
The article includes additional context regarding the politics of public lands in Idaho, as well as more details of the political platform of Jordan.
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