“Therefore I am announcing that I will not be running in the Republican primary and instead will run as an independent prospect,” Bundy composed in Thursdays declaration. “I am certain that by unifying Idahoans behind the actual Republican platform we can take back control of the Idaho government and bring back the conservative values that have made Idaho such a fantastic place to live.”
Independent and unaffiliated candidates do not take part in the Republican and Democratic primaries in the spring, however can run in the general election in November versus the winners of the primaries.
In his statement, Bundy rejected reports on social media that he had made a recommendation handle Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who has also revealed she is running for governor in the Republican primary.
” Although this is an intriguing idea, the truth of the matter is Janice McGeachin and I never ever made any contract to endorse each other,” Bundy composed in Thursdays statement.
Back in May 2021, Bundy designated a campaign treasurer and submitted documents indicating he would run for guv as a Republican. He followed that up in June with a main campaign statement that he would run for governor as a Republican and get involved in the Republican primary election, which is set up for May 17.
There were constantly concerns about whether Bundy would in fact run as a Republican.
Bundy was not a signed up voter in Gem County when launched his campaign, Gem County Deputy Clerk Julie Bruce said in June.
For that reason, Bundy was not formally connected with the Republican Party.
Idaho Republican Party pushed back against Bundy
After Bundy filed his preliminary documents in 2015 showing he would run as a Republican, Idaho GOP Chairman Tom Luna released a declaration disavowing Bundy.
” Republicans are the celebration of law and order and, and Ammon Bundy is not suited to call himself an Idaho Republican, not to mentioned run for guv of our excellent state,” Luna composed in June.
Through Feb. 14, Bundys project fundraising efforts dragged McGeachin and incumbent Gov. Brad Little.
Bundy reported raising $325,375, while McGeachin reported $535,812 and Little reported raising more than $1.4 million.
The main prospect filing window in Idaho is open from Feb. 28 to March 11. Little has not officially announced his re-election project, but he is expected to do so in the coming weeks and has actually launched a campaign ad for guv that is working on a local television station.
Bundy has his own encounters with law enforcement
Bundy has a controversial past and has been jailed a number of times himself.
He is a creator and face of individualss Right motion, which opposes federal government guidelines and COVID-19 restrictions and contacts individuals to be prepared to defend themselves and their households.
In 2016, Bundy helped lead an armed standoff versus the government at Oregons Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. In 2016, Ammon and his sibling, Ryan Bundy, were found not guilty of all charges coming from the Malheur standoff.
Before that, in 2014, Bundys daddy, Cliven Bundy, and their family led an armed standoff after the federal government bought Cliven Bundy to pay unpaid grazing fees and started seizing his cattle. A judge in 2018 dismissed felony conspiracy and firearms charges against Cliven, Ammon and Ryan Bundy stemming from the standoff after saying district attorneys kept proof.
In August 2020, Bundy was jailed at the Idaho State Capitol for trespassing, resisting and obstructing officers, Idaho State Police said.
He was also prohibited from the Idaho State Capitol for a year.
In April 2021, Bundy was once again detained twice for trespassing at the Idaho State Capitol, the Associated Press reported.
The winners of the May 17 Republican and Democratic main elections advance to Novembers basic election. Independent and unaffiliated political prospects do not run in the spring main elections. Those candidates appear on Novembers basic election tally.
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c( 3) public charity. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and Twitter.
The winners of the May 17 Republican and Democratic primary elections advance to Novembers basic election. Independent and unaffiliated political candidates do not run in the spring primary elections. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c( 3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun keeps editorial independence. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and Twitter.
