Kempthorne endorses Bedke for Idaho lieutenant governor

BOISE — Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, who led the charge on many accomplishments in Idaho, announced his endorsement of Speaker Scott Bedke to be Idaho’s next Lieutenant Governor. Kempthorne’s support for Bedke stretches back to 2001, when he nominated Bedke for a seat in the Idaho House of Representatives.

“Scott Bedke possesses the experience that results in effective leadership for Idahoans,” Kempthorne said. “Scott is a fiscal conservative who is committed to upholding the Idaho Constitution. He protects Idaho values, cuts taxes, fights back against federal overreach, and consistently supports our law enforcement and military heroes. For those reasons, Idaho is the envy of conservatives across the nation. If we want to keep it that way, we need Scott Bedke as Idaho’s next Lieutenant Governor.”

While leading Idaho, Kempthorne placed a heavy emphasis on improving Idaho’s infrastructure and bolstering literacy rates among our students. In 2006, Kempthorne stepped away from his office to join President George W. Bush’s Administration as Secretary of the Interior, where he fought to protect rural Western communities and strengthen security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Governor Kempthorne saw promise in me as a conservative rancher from Oakley. Idaho has undergone a lot of changes since then, but we haven’t changed who we are,” Bedke said. “I am honored to have his continued support and endorsement to be Idaho’s next Lieutenant Governor.”