¶ Brad Little — Transphobe serving as Idaho Governor (R)
Status: 🔴 Signed America's harshest anti-trans bathroom ban, bought office with corporate dark money
¶ 🎯 Accountability Summary
| Anti-Trans Actions | Status |
|---|---|
| Signed HB 752 (Bathroom Ban) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Signed HB 538 (Allows misgendering students) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Signed Pride flag ban expansion | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Signed school sports ban | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Signed birth certificate change ban | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Signed doctor refusal of care act | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Executive order opposing Title IX for LGBTQ+ athletes | 🔴 SIGNED |
| Pending HB 822 (Outing Bill) | ⏳ AWAITING ACTION |
¶ Co-Conspirators
Signed by: Governor Brad Little
Affiliations: Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) — designated hate group, Family Research Council (FRC) — designated hate group
Other Co-Conspirators:
¶ Photo
Official Portrait:
- Idaho Governor's Website: Governor Brad Little
- Wikimedia Commons: Brad Little
¶ Overview
Brad Little is the Governor of Idaho (R), serving since January 2019 (Wikipedia). He signed multiple anti-trans bills into law, including HB 752, a bathroom ban criminalizing transgender people for using facilities matching their gender identity, signed on March 31, 2026 — the Trans Day of Visibility (Idaho Capital Sun). He is a third-generation rancher from a wealthy political dynasty who bought his way into office and has consistently capitulated to extremist elements in his party.
¶ The Dynasty: Born Into Power
Brad Little never had to earn a political promotion in his life. His political rise was handed to him through family wealth and establishment connections (bradforidaho.com):
- Grandfather Andy Little — immigrated from Scotland, became the "Idaho Sheep King" with 120,000+ sheep, one of the largest operations in the nation (Little Cattle Co)
- Father David Little — Idaho state senator, inherited the family empire (Wikipedia)
- Brad literally filled in for his father at the state Capitol during two legislative sessions in the 1980s when his father was too ill to attend — a quasi-nepotistic deputization (Wikipedia)
- Appointed to state Senate in 2001 by Gov. Dirk Kempthorne — not through election, but because he was a "known quantity from a prominent family" (bradforidaho.com)
- Appointed Lieutenant Governor in 2009 by Gov. Butch Otter — establishment hand-off, not earned (Wikipedia)
- Otter endorsed him as successor for governor in 2018, giving him the party machinery's blessing (AP News)
¶ Bought His Way Into Office
Little's 2018 campaign relied on massive spending and establishment money (bradlittle.exposed):
- Self-funded $800,000 — his campaign's single largest funding source was his own personal loan (bradlittle.exposed)
- Outspent main opponent 2:1 — Little spent $2.0 million vs Labrador's $1.03 million (bradlittle.exposed)
- Spent $27 per vote vs Labrador's $16 per vote (bradlittle.exposed)
- Corporate donor roster reads like a who's who of Idaho establishment: Simplot, AgriBeef, Hecla Mining, Sinclair Companies, Monsanto, SelectHealth, United Health Group, Regence Blue Shield (bradlittle.exposed)
- Dark money pipeline: Money shifted from "Friends of Brad Little" to "Idaho Victory Fund" then into "Idaho Liberty PAC" — a structure criticized even by fellow Republicans (Glenneda Substack)
- Hired FP1 Strategies (elite GOP consulting firm) — paid $1.3 million in the 2022 cycle alone (bradlittle.exposed)
- Carried over $334,000 from 2016 election cycle (bradlittle.exposed)
¶ Used False Attack Ads
Little's 2018 campaign deployed attack ads repeatedly fact-checked as false (bradlittle.exposed):
- KTVB fact-checkers found multiple ads "simply not true" or "complete fabrications" (bradlittle.exposed)
- Claimed Labrador supported "welfare benefits for illegal aliens" — FALSE (bradlittle.exposed)
- Claimed opponent Tommy Ahlquist wanted to raise taxes — FALSE (Ahlquist had actually said the opposite) (bradlittle.exposed)
- Campaign refused to cite sources, arrogantly stating "the claims they are making are accepted facts, and facts don't need citation" (bradlittle.exposed)
- Opponents described his tactics as "shameful" and "disappointing" (bradlittle.exposed)
- The Inlander called his attacks "absurd on its face" (bradlittle.exposed)
¶ Broke 30-Year Debate Tradition
- In 2018, Little participated in only select debates while avoiding others (bradlittle.exposed)
- In 2022, he completely refused to participate in televised debates — declining invitations from both Idaho Public Television and KTVB, breaking a tradition Idaho had maintained for over 30 years (Idaho Education News, Coeur d'Alene Press, East Idaho News)
- This avoidance pattern suggests awareness of vulnerabilities in detailed policy discussions
¶ Silent Enabler of Otter Administration Scandals
Little served as Lieutenant Governor for 8 years under Gov. Butch Otter and "never said one word" about any scandal, despite being second-in-command (bradforidaho.com):
- Idaho Education Network (IEN) fiasco: $18.2 million wasted on a broadband project mired in procurement corruption. The contract was ruled illegal and void. Little never criticized the process or held anyone accountable (bradforidaho.com)
- "Students Come First" (Luna Laws): Three education laws voters overwhelmingly rejected — 67%-33% on the worst one. Little supported them and stayed silent after the repudiation (bradforidaho.com)
- Multiple other controversies under Otter's watch — cronyism, mismanagement, ethical lapses — Little remained publicly silent throughout (bradforidaho.com)
¶ Micron Hypocrisy
In 2022, Little publicly praised Idaho-based Micron Technology — a major campaign donor — just one day after the controversial "Drag Kids" event at Boise Pride sparked national outrage. Children as young as 11 were set to perform drag on stage. While other sponsors pulled out, Micron remained a leading sponsor. Little never commented on the contradiction between his anti-LGBTQ+ legislative record and his donor's sponsorship of LGBTQ+ events (Idaho Tribune).
¶ "Leadership" of Capitulation
Former Idaho Statesman opinion editor Marty Trillhaase described Little as someone who has "capitulated to the knuckle-dragger caucus" and whose leadership is modeled on "French generals of 1940 who would rather live with fascism than fight for their country and their honor" (Lewiston Tribune).
- Pulled Estella Zamora's nomination to the Idaho Human Rights Commission after conservative blogger pressure — she was a beloved Latino human rights activist who had served for more than 30 years. Little withdrew her re-appointment without warning after she made Facebook posts critical of ICE (Idaho Capital Sun, KTVB)
- Never explained why he withdrew her nomination
- The Idaho Statesman concluded: "He has made his peace with his party's right-wing hatefulness" (Idaho Statesman)
- Even signed an abortion ban while openly calling it "unconstitutional and unwise" in his signing letter, acknowledging it could "re-traumatize" rape victims (ABC News)
¶ Deep Corporate Lobbying Ties
- Served 20 years on the board of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI) — Idaho's most powerful business lobby (bradforidaho.com)
- Chaired IACI for a time (bradforidaho.com)
- His governorship is deeply intertwined with corporate interests that benefit from his policies (bradforidaho.com)
¶ Contact Information
¶ Official Office
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone (Capitol) | (208) 334-2100 |
| Email (Official) | governor@idaho.gov |
| Address | 700 W State St, Boise, ID 83702 |
| Website | governor.idaho.gov |
¶ Social Media
| Platform | Handle/Link |
|---|---|
| Twitter/X | @GovernorLittle |
| facebook.com/GovernorBradLittle |
¶ Organization Connections
¶ Anti-Trans Organizations
| Organization | Connection |
|---|---|
| Alliance Defending Freedom | Signed legislation supported by ADF's legal positions; ADF assisted Idaho in defending trans ban (NY Times) |
| Family Research Council (FRC) | Signed policies restricting trans rights |
¶ Key Anti-Trans Legislation Signed
¶ 2026 Bills
| Bill | Summary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HB 752 | Bathroom ban — criminalizes trans people using matching facilities; applies even in private businesses | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| HB 538 | Allows misgendering trans students (ADF-supported) (ADF) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Pride Flag Ban | Imposes fines on buildings flying Pride flags | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| HB 822 | Outing bill (requires notification of trans students' parents within 72 hours) | ⏳ AWAITING ACTION |
¶ Prior Bills
| Bill | Summary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| School Sports Ban | Bans transgender students from school sports (Trans Equality) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Birth Certificate Ban | Prohibits changes to birth certificates for trans people (Trans Equality) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Doctor Refusal of Care | Lets doctors refuse treatment based on "sincerely held religious or moral beliefs" (Idaho Reports) | 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW |
| Executive Order | Opposes Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ athletes (Idaho Capital Sun) | 🔴 SIGNED (Aug 2024) |
¶ HB 752 (2026) — Bathroom Ban
Sponsored by: Ben Taylor
Signed by: Governor Brad Little
Status: 🔴 SIGNED INTO LAW (March 31, 2026 — Trans Day of Visibility)
Effective Date: Immediately
Provisions:
- 🔴 Criminalizes transgender people for using facilities matching their gender identity — including in private businesses (AP News)
- 🔴 First offense is a misdemeanor; repeat offenses can be felonies (Boise State Public Radio)
- 🔴 The ACLU of Idaho called it "one of the most extreme anti-trans bills in the country" (Idaho Statesman)
- 🔴 Even statewide police organizations opposed it (LGBTQ Nation)
- 🔴 Nine protesters were arrested in a sit-in at the governor's office the day after signing (Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Statesman)
¶ HB 822 (2026) — Outing Bill (Pending)
Status: ⏳ Awaiting Governor's Action
Provisions:
- 🔴 Requires educators, healthcare providers, and childcare facilities to notify parents within 72 hours of a minor's request for gender transition support (Idaho Education News)
- 🔴 Non-compliance risks up to $100,000 fines (Idaho Education News)
- 🔴 Nine protesters arrested for trespassing in governor's office on April 1, 2026, urging veto (Boise State Public Radio)
¶ Human Cost
Trans people in Idaho face:
- Criminalization of bathroom use — HB 752 makes it a crime to use facilities matching gender identity
- Forced outing — HB 822 would require informing parents about trans youth
- Sports exclusion — Trans students banned from school sports
- Identity erasure — Birth certificate change ban eliminates legal recognition
- Psychological harm — Legislative attacks increase anxiety and depression
- Refusal of medical care — Doctors can now legally refuse treatment based on religious objections
¶ Resources
- Idaho Governor's Office: https://governor.idaho.gov
- ACLU of Idaho: https://www.acluidaho.org
- Idaho Statesman: https://www.idahostatesman.com
¶ Sources
- Wikipedia — Brad Little
- Little Cattle Co — History
- AP News — Otter Endorses Little
- Brad for Idaho — Legacy and Establishment
- Brad for Idaho — Campaign Analysis
- Brad for Idaho — Otter Scandals
- Brad for Idaho — Leadership
- Brad Little Exposed
- Glenneda Substack — Dark Money
- Idaho Education News — Debate Refusal
- Coeur d'Alene Press — Debate Refusal
- East Idaho News — Debate Decline
- Idaho Tribune — Micron/Drag Kids
- Lewiston Tribune — Weakness of Little
- Idaho Capital Sun — Zamora Fired
- KTVB — Zamora Removed
- Idaho Statesman — Little Abandons Human Rights
- ABC News — Abortion Ban
- Boise State Public Radio — HB 752 Signed
- Idaho Capital Sun — HB 752
- AP News — Bathroom Ban
- Idaho Statesman — HB 752 Extreme
- LGBTQ Nation — Police Opposition
- Boise State Public Radio — Protesters Arrested
- Idaho Education News — HB 822
- Trans Equality — Anti-Trans Laws
- Idaho Reports — Doctor Refusal
- Idaho Capital Sun — Title IX Order
- NY Times — ADF Assisting Idaho
- ADF — HB 538
- OpenSecrets — Brad Little
¶ 🤝 Hold them accountable — Idaho
Last updated: April 3, 2026