The Idaho Republican Party made history at its 2026 state convention, electing an all-female executive committee while returning Dorothy Moon to the state chair position for an unprecedented third term.

Moon secured the chairmanship with 306 votes, or 51.4 percent — just above the 51 percent threshold required under party rules to avoid a runoff. Her margin was narrow, but enough to claim the position outright.

She becomes the first Idaho GOP state chair to win a third consecutive term since Dennis Olsen held the post in the early 1980s. “I’m absolutely thrilled that the Republican base has confidence in the work that we’ve been doing in the office over the years,” Moon said following the vote.

A Contested Race for Chair

Moon faced two challengers in the race: incumbent first vice chair Mark Fuller and former state senator Steven Thayn, who had entered the contest ahead of the convention. The three-way field made a runoff a real possibility, but Moon’s vote share cleared the threshold on the first ballot.

With Moon’s return secured, delegates filled the remaining executive committee positions entirely with women. Viki Purdy was elected first vice chair, Julianne Young was elected second vice chair, Sandra Eaton took the treasurer’s post, and Carla Mattare was elected secretary.

Abortion Initiative Enters the Conversation

Beyond the leadership elections, the convention addressed a citizen-led ballot initiative headed for Idaho voters in 2026 — the Idaho Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act. The measure would legalize abortion up to the point of fetal viability.

Second Vice Chair-elect Julianne Young was pointed in her assessment of the proposal, arguing it goes well beyond what many voters may assume. “Folks need to know that this initiative is extreme,” Young said. “It is a pro abortion at any time initiative.”

The initiative is expected to be a major mobilizing issue for both parties heading into the fall election cycle. Idaho PACs have already poured more than $4 million into 2026 Republican primary battles, signaling an unusually high-stakes election environment across the state.

What’s Next

With the new executive committee seated, the Idaho Republican Party heads into the general election season under Moon’s continued leadership. The party will now turn its organizational energy toward November, with the reproductive freedom initiative likely to drive voter engagement and fundraising on both sides.

Moon’s third-term win consolidates her influence over Idaho’s Republican infrastructure at a moment when the party is navigating both internal tensions and high-profile ballot fights. How the new all-female leadership team approaches the abortion initiative — and broader candidate support — will be among the early tests of the reconstituted committee.