About My Opponent

Brandon Mitchell’s Voting Record

Representative Mitchell has served in the Idaho Legislature for the last 6 years (3 terms).

  • He has served as Co-Chair of the House Transportation and Defense Committee, which does not allow remote testimony in any hearings! So, those of us in northern Idaho can only testify in person, which would mean a trip to Boise - totally impractical!

  • Since 2025, he has served on the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC) that determines the state budget every year and votes in line with the GOP, cutting services and vital programs for our district, such as University of Idaho funding and affordable housing options.

Rep. Mitchell Votes Have Resulted in Revenue Shortfalls and Cuts to Vital Services

For the past 5 years, Rep. Mitchell has voted for several state income tax cuts that have weakened Idaho’s revenue systems and limited the state’s ability to maintain support for our public schools and other vital public services. These changes also made the state’s tax system more regressive – meaning that Idahoans earning the lowest incomes pay the highest percentage of their incomes toward taxes.

Rep. Mitchell Votes Against Preschool and Kindergarten

Rep. Mitchell Does Not Support Higher Education

  • Voted YES on H 876 (2026), which cuts higher education budgets. Passed the House, and cuts several agencies under the State Board of Education umbrella, including the two and four-year colleges and universities. Higher education stands to take a disproportionate hit from the proposed budget cuts.

  • Voted NO on S 1179 (2021), funding the University of Idaho.

  • Voted NO on H 24 (2023) to provide workforce training for Idaho high school graduates through the LAUNCH program.

  • Signed on to the 2026 Idaho GOP Platform that clearly states the party does not “support funding education with taxpayer money beyond high school.” This implies the supermajority legislature may not fund Idaho’s colleges and universities in the future.

Rep. Mitchell Votes Against Women's Freedoms and Healthcare

  • Voted YES on ALL abortion bills, resulting in doctors leaving the state and women with problem pregnancies seeking healthcare outside the state and families of rapists to be able to sue doctors who provide abortions for rape victims.

  • Voted YES on H 863 (2026) for a $22 million cut to the Residential Habilitation program that is vital for promoting independent living for individuals with mental illnesses, substance abuse problems, and developmental disabilities.

  • Voted YES on H 81 (2023) to kill the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

  • Voted NO on Bill H 633 (2024) to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 2 months to 12 months.

  • Voted NO on Bill S 1234 (2024) to allow women to get 6-month prescriptions for birth control pills instead of having to fill prescriptions every month, providing continuity in preventing unwanted pregnancies.

  • Voted NO on H 213 (2023), a student loan incentive program to encourage nurses to serve in rural Idaho, where there is a severe healthcare worker shortage.

Rep. Mitchell Votes Against Initiative and Voting Rights

Regarding our citizen-led Initiative rights:

  • Voted YES on S 1110 (2021), which became law, to ensure signatures are gathered from each of the 35 legislative districts. This law was declared unconstitutional by the Idaho Supreme Court, calling ballot initiatives and petitions “fundamental rights, reserved to the people of Idaho…”

  • In 2023, he co-sponsored SJR 101 (2023) that would have required a minimum number of signatures come from each of the 35 legislative districts, again making it nearly impossible to get citizen-led initiatives on the ballot. (It failed in the House.)

  • In 2024, he voted for H652 (2024) which shortened the time to collect signatures and made it more difficult for signature gatherers to turn in signatures, again making it nearly impossible to get a citizen-led initiative on the ballot. (This bill was passed by the House but never received a hearing in the Senate.)

  • Voted YES on S 1377 (2024) to require paid signature collectors to announce they are paid, wear a badge, paid signature gatherer written on the document, or signatures would not be counted. (This became law.)

  • Voted YES on S 1376a (2024)for public officials to use public funds to oppose initiatives! (This became law and is an abuse of our tax dollars!)

Regarding Voting Rights:

  • Co-sponsor and Floor Sponsor of H 340 (2023), which makes it more difficult to register to vote and actually disenfranchises homebound people without a current Idaho photo ID. (This became law.)

  • Voted YES and Floor Sponsor of H 599 (2024) – Would take away your right to turn in your elderly neighbor’s absentee ballot, making it a crime. (This became law.)

  • Voted YES on HJR 4 (2024) – A constitutional amendment that would prevent any changes to how winners are elected, prohibiting any other possible methods of voting like Ranked Choice Voting in the future. (This resolution failed.)

Rep. Mitchell Votes to Take Away Local Control and Expand State Government:

  • Voted YES on H 623 (2026)to require one full minute, at a minimum, of silence at the beginning of the school day in all public schools.  

  • Voted YES on H 720 (2026) that cities with populations greater than 25,000 must conduct district-wide elections for city council elections by establishing city election districts.

  • Voted YES on H 415 (2024)– Authorizes a school employee who possesses an enhanced license to carry concealed weapons on school property and requires all schools to remove “Gun Free Zone” signs which would allow concealed weapons in all public K-12 schools. This would have replaced any “gun policies” already established by our locally elected school board members. (This bill was passed by the House but did not get a hearing in the Senate)

  • Voted YES on H 493 (2024) – Prevents any local control regarding mandating of face masks, no matter what future public health emergencies might occur. (This bill was passed by the House but did not receive a hearing in the Senate)

  • Voted YES on all library bills, including H 710(2024) – Takes away local control by library boards and mandates specific library board policies set by the state, and involves potential fines for all school and public libraries. (H 710 became law July 1, 2024). However, this controversial library materials law is the subject of two major federal lawsuits arguing that the legislation violates First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Cornell lawsuit, Idaho Capital Sun

  • Sponsored and Introduced H 545 (2024) - Prevents a local governmental unit from enacting an ordinance or a resolution requiring participation in an optional federal housing assistance program (Section 8 vouchers) or regulating rent, fees, or deposits charged for leasing private residential property. This bill removes protections for renters from unscrupulous landlords and will increase problems with affordable housing in Idaho (This bill became law July 1, 2024)

  • Sponsored Bill H 470 (2024), without consulting the Sec. of State to waste up to $80,000 expanding state government unnecessarily by creating an Office of Elections Crimes and Security to respond to alleged elections violations. (This bill failed in the House)

  • Voted YES on H 572 – “The bill aims to prohibit local governments in Idaho from establishing or enforcing any laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances that provides payments to individuals under guaranteed income programs,” according to the Idaho bill’s statement of purpose. “These programs are defined as those offering regular, unconditional cash payments for any purpose, excluding those requiring work or training from recipients. The legislation declares such local efforts null and void unless explicitly authorized by state statue.” (This bill became law July 1, 2024)

(NOTE: In contrast, read about the success with guaranteed income: Idaho Capital Sun)