Incumbent Idaho governor beats out Trump-endorsed candidate to win GOP primary

The other governor facing a Trump-backed challenger is Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who had a very public falling out with the former president after he refused to assist Trump in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. 

• On the other hand, Little never had a significant public dispute with Trump prior to his endorsement of McGeachin.

Between the lines: While McGeachin fashioned herself as the conservative candidate, Little is no moderate.

• McGeachin drew criticism in February after she delivered taped remarks at the America First Political Action Conference, which is considered by many to be a white nationalist organization. She also called on Little to hold a special legislative session to eliminate rape and incest as legal exceptions to the state’s abortion ban.
• However, Little signed into law a bill banning abortion after six weeks in March. The bill was modeled after the controversial abortion ban in Texas.

Background: Little and McGeachin have repeatedly clashed over the last year in their respective positions as governor and lieutenant governor of the state.

• When Little left the state briefly in May 2021 to attend a conference, McGeachin issued an executive order banning masks mandates in schools and public buildings.

• The move came a week after McGeachin announced that she would be running for governor. Little quickly overturned McGeachin’s executive order, calling it an “abuse of power.” The governor never issued a statewide mask mandate, but some counties, cities or schools did.
• McGeachin issued another executive order when Little left the state in October banning public schools and the state’s department of education from requiring COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. She also sought to deploy the state’s National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border. Little again overturned the lieutenant governor’s order.