State of Idaho Archives: on Families & Children

Brad Little: Defend our constitution by defining 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.

Michael Crapo: Strong families are bedrock of healthy society

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.

Natalie Fleming: Respect, love everyone; support traditional family

Nels Mitchell: 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."

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

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."

Raul Labrador: Challenge Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay 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."

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

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.