Ammon Bundy Announces Republican Run For Idaho Governor

By Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun

June 20, 2021

Ammon Bundy, the politically conservative activist who is banned from the Idaho Capitol and was renounced by the Republican Party, announced he is running for Idaho governor before a crowd of several hundred people on Saturday evening at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park in Meridian.

“As governor, my very first action on day one of my term will be to sign an executive order recognizing life as beginning at conception, and giving the full force and measure of Idaho law to protect such life from that moment forward,” the website states. “Simply put — I will end all abortions by executive order on day one of my governorship.”

In May, Bundy filed initial paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office appointing a political treasurer for a gubernatorial campaign. At the time, Bundy indicated he would run as a Republican. At his announcement, he confirmed he will run as a Republican.

The campaign immediately hit a snag. Bundy originally appointed himself as treasurer, but because he was not a registered voter, the Secretary of State’s Office said he must either register or appoint another treasurer who is, as required by Idaho law. Bundy then resubmitted documents to the Secretary of State’s Office appointing Aaron Welling as treasurer, state records show.

On Friday, Gem County Deputy Clerk told the Idaho Capital Sun, “We do not have an Ammon Bundy registered to vote in Gem County.” Paperwork filed with the state lists an Emmett P.O. Box as Bundy’s address. Emmett is located in Gem County.

Bundy advertised Saturday’s announcement in a YouTube video that promised his father, Cliven Bundy, would attend and they would provide burgers made with beef from the Bundy Ranch for the first 1,000 people.

This wasn’t your typical campaign event crowded with Republican party officials and elected leaders. Instead families and groups of people huddled in shady spots under trees or in folding chairs surrounding the park’s bandstand.

On June 4, the Idaho Republican Party and Idaho GOP Chairman Tom Luna released a statement blasting Bundy for his “antics and chaotic political theater” and vowing to not “turn a blind eye to his behaviors.”

“Republicans are the party of law and order and, and Ammon Bundy is not suited to call himself an Idaho Republican, let alone run for governor of our great state,” Luna wrote.

Bundy has been arrested multiple times at the Idaho Statehouse over the past year after leading protests against coronavirus health and safety restrictions and disrupting legislative hearings. He was arrested twice at the Capitol in August, ultimately being handcuffed and wheeled out of the Capitol two days in a row. He was charged with trespassing, resisting and obstructing officers, Idaho State Police said at the time. He was also banned from the Capitol for a year.

In April, Bundy was arrested twice in one day for suspicion of trespassing after returning to the Capitol, the AP reported.

In 2014, Cliven Bundy and their family led an armed standoff after the federal government ordered Bundy to pay unpaid grazing fees and began impounding his cattle. A judge in 2018 dismissed felony conspiracy and firearms charges against Cliven, Ammon and Ryan Bundy stemming from the standoff after saying prosecutors withheld evidence.

In 2016, Ammon Bundy helped lead an armed standoff against the government at Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. In 2016, Ammon and Ryan Bundy were found not guilty of all charges stemming from the Malheur standoff.

The official candidate filing declaration period does not open until February, about 12 weeks before the May 17 primary election.

Several other candidates have already announced their candidacy for governor or appointed a campaign treasurer. The list of potential Republican gubernatorial candidates includes Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, Lisa Marie of Eagle, Ed Humprehys of Eagle, Jeff Cotton of Boise, Chris Hammond of Lewiston and Cody Usabel of Meridian.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little has appointed a political treasurer but has not announced whether he will run for re-election. Earlier this month Little told the Idaho Capital Sun that people shouldn’t be surprised by his ultimate decision.

The winner of the May primary will advance to November’s general election.

The Idaho Capital Sun, the Gem State’s newest nonprofit news organization, delivers accountability reporting on state government, politics and policy.