Paulette Jordan steps down to focus on governor's race

Rep. Paulette Jordan announced Wednesday she is officially stepping down from her District 5 legislative seat to concentrate on running for governor full-time.

Jordan, a Democrat from Plummer, is seeking her party’s nomination for governor in the May 15 primary election.

“It has been my privilege to be elected by and to serve the people of the fifth district since 2014,” said Jordan, in a news release. “My priority is my constituents and the people of Idaho. I cannot fairly serve my constituents and run for governor, therefore I am stepping down from my legislative seat. This is necessary to win the Democratic primary and to move toward victory in November. I’m all in for Idaho.”

Gov. Butch Otter will appoint a Democratic replacement who will serve for the remainder of Jordan’s term which ends November 2018.

Jordan was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2016 to the District 5 House Seat A. As a representative she served on the House Environment, Energy & Technology, Resources & Conservation and State Affairs committees.

Jordan announced her intention to run for governor on Dec. 7, 2017. If elected, she will be the first Native American governor in the country and the first woman elected governor in Idaho.