Labrador to make gubernatorial bid
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho gives his victory speech at the Idaho GOP Election Night Party, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
After much speculation, it’s official: Raul Labrador wants to be the state’s top elected official.
The Republican congressman representing Idaho’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2010, Labrador released the following statement this morning:
“Running for governor of the great state of Idaho takes serious preparation. To comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law, I have filed the appropriate campaign finance form required to register as a candidate for governor. I’ll be making a formal announcement in the coming weeks.
“Idaho needs a proven conservative leader who will stand against the special interests and politicians that have picked the winners and losers in our state Capitol for too long. Idaho needs a strong leader who will make government fair for everyone. Idaho needs a governor who will provide a new vision, a new approach and new leadership.”
Labrador is the fourth Republican who will seek the party’s nomination for governor in the 2018 primary. Lt. Gov. Brad Little, Tommy Ahlquist and state Sen. Russ Fulcher have already announced their candidacies.