Idaho Governor Race: Little's $1.7M War Chest Towers Over 17 Rivals

BOISE, Idaho — Seventeen candidates are battling for Idaho's top job in the 2026 gubernatorial race, but fundraising figures paint a stark picture of frontrunners. Incumbent Gov. Brad Little, a Republican seeking re-election, has amassed $1.7 million as of late April, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's Idaho Sunshine database. His haul dwarfs the field, including independent John Stegner with $200,000 and Republican Mark Fitzpatrick at $125,000.[1] Little's donors span Idaho powerhouses like Idaho Power, the Idaho Association of Realtors and the Idaho Bankers Association, each contributing $10,000. Of his total, $1.2 million came from in-state residents and companies, with $500,000 from out-of-state sources. Stegner relies on individual backers such as former Boise City Council member Patrick Bageant and ex-St. Luke's Health System CEO David Pate; he's also self-funded about $60,000. Fitzpatrick draws from personal networks and the Boise County Republican Central Committee.[1] Democrat Terri Pickens, a former public defender, has raised roughly $95,000, the strongest among non-Republicans. The field includes eight Republicans, three Democrats, two Libertarians, one Constitution Party candidate and three independents. Seven contenders have collected under $6,000, while six report zero funds, underscoring Little's grip amid scarce polling data.[1] With primaries looming, Idaho's lack of reliable polls makes donor dollars a key barometer of viability. The Republican-dominated race, listed on the Idaho GOP's 2026 voter guide, sets the stage for Little to leverage his financial edge across the state's rural counties and urban centers like Boise and Idaho Falls.[1][2]