State of Idaho Archives: on Families & Children


Brad Little: Defend our constitution by defining marriage

Q: If elected, would you challenge the Supreme Court's decision on the ability of states to define marriage?

Little: "While serving in the Senate, I voted to adopt the language defining marriage in the Idaho Constitution. It is the role of the governor to defend our constitution and laws, and I will look for every opportunity to do so. We need a Republican president and Senate to put people on the Supreme Court who uphold our (U.S.) Constitution as our founders intended."

What you should know: In 2004 and 2005, then-Sen. Little voted against resolutions to amend the Idaho Constitution to define marriage as one man and one woman. Both resolutions failed to pass. In 2006, he voted in support of a third version of the resolution, which cleared the Legislature and which voters passed that November. The amendment is still in the state constitution but was overturned in federal court.

Source: Idaho Statesman on 2018 Idaho Gubernatorial debate Feb 25, 2018

Michael Crapo: Strong families are bedrock of healthy society

A strong family unit is the bedrock of a healthy society. Many of the important issues facing American families today are the subject of legislation being addressed in Congress. Issues such as family and dating violence intervention, awareness and prevention; child predators--online or in person; methamphetamine and other illicit drug abuse awareness and prevention; protection of unborn children; and, preservation of marriage all affect the state of our families. We must stand guard against destructive behavior and policies that threaten to harm our families and our children, and we must support healthy, morally-sound relationships, free from physical and emotional abuse and drug abuse.

Having led efforts to raise awareness of teen dating violence and established the first full week in February as National Teen Dating Violence Prevention Week in 2005, I continue to be actively involved in generating public awareness about family and dating violence.

Source: Vote-USA.org on 2011 Idaho Senate incumbents Jan 11, 2011

Natalie Fleming: Respect, love everyone; support traditional family

Natalie embraces her strong Judeo-Christian faith and values, a part of those values is the knowledge that everyone here on this earth is a sacred child of God worthy of respect, love, and protection. Natalie Fleming firmly believes that the Family with a Father and a Mother is the fundamental sacred unit ordained by our Creator to raise his children. Natalie embraces, loves, and fiercely protects each and all of her loved ones regardless of sexual and gender diversity. Natalie gets it.
Source: 2022 Idaho Senate campaign website NatalieIsAwesome.com Jun 28, 2022

Nels Mitchell: Strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act

Mitchell said he would work with Rep. Mike Simpson to ensure funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and to protect the Boulder White Clouds, and, unlike Sen. Risch, would be a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act.

Mitchell said the 2014 election will be pivotal. "In 2014, we the people must reclaim the US Senate from the control of career politicians. It is not too late for the Senate to reestablish credibility and restore the confidence of the American people."

Source: 2014 Idaho Senate campaign website, NelsMitchellForIdaho.com Jan 14, 2014

Paulette Jordan: Marriage equality should not be limited by state boundaries

Q: If elected, would you challenge the Supreme Court's decision on the ability of states to define marriage?

The issue: Otter took his battle to defend the state's ban on same-sex marriage to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Their rulings legalized gay marriage in Idaho months before the U.S. Supreme Court did the same in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Jordan: "As governor, I would not challenge the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality. Marriage is a fundamental right for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or geographic location. No one's home state should preclude them from accessing the same rights and freedoms as their fellow citizens in a neighboring state."

Lt. Gov. Brad Little: "While serving in the Senate, I voted to adopt the language defining marriage in the Idaho Constitution. It is the role of the governor to defend our constitution and laws, and I will look for every opportunity to do so."

Source: Idaho Statesman on 2018 Idaho Gubernatorial debate Feb 25, 2018

Raul Labrador: Challenge Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage

Q: If elected, would you challenge the Supreme Court's decision on the ability of states to define marriage?

The issue: Otter took his battle to defend the state's ban on same-sex marriage to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Their rulings legalized gay marriage in Idaho months before the U.S. Supreme Court did the same in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Labrador: "Strong families improve our communities, our state and our nation. As governor, I'll actively look for ways to strengthen healthy families and foster policies that result in resilient communities. I will also actively look for an opportunity to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell decision that interfered with our state sovereignty and took away states' ability to define marriage."

Source: Idaho Statesman on 2018 Idaho Gubernatorial debate Feb 25, 2018

Tommy Ahlquist: Marriage should be the union of a man and a woman

Q: If elected, would you challenge the Supreme Court's decision on the ability of states to define marriage?

The issue: US Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court rulings legalized gay marriage in Idaho months before the Supreme Court did the same nationally in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Ahlquist: "I believe that marriage should be the union of a man and a woman. As our governor, I will support policies that promote and safeguard the traditional institution of marriage. I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court decision on this issue. If something changes that allows a viable legal option to challenge the Supreme Court's decision, I will pursue that. I will not, however, waste taxpayer dollars pursuing frivolous lawsuits that have no chance of success."

What you should know: Ahlquist's website in early 2017 included a pledge to "fight to protect Idaho's right to define marriage within our state." He removed that wording last summer after questions about how he would pursue it.

Source: Idaho Statesman on 2018 Idaho Gubernatorial debate Feb 25, 2018

Ron DeSantis: We lead the nation in protecting the rights of parents

We lead the nation in school choice. Last session, under the leadership of Speaker Renner, we enacted the largest expansion of school choice in American history. Florida has close to 1.5 million students enrolled full-time in various choice programs-- from private scholarships to charter schools to choice options within school districts.

We also lead the nation in protecting the rights of parents. School systems are important, but they exist to serve the students, parents and the community, not to supersede the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. We were one of the first states to enact a Parents' Bill of Rights and curriculum transparency.

We protected women's sports--as the father of two daughters I think it is important that they have the opportunity to compete with fairness and integrity. We protected our children from indoctrination and sexualized curriculum, and we stood up for parents against the woke mob

Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature Jan 9, 2024

  • The above quotations are from State of Idaho Politicians: Archives.
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2024 Presidential contenders on Families & Children:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026