Gov. Brad Little has outraised every other statewide candidate in Idaho heading into the November general election, pulling in more than $2 million in campaign contributions — a financial advantage that sets him apart in a five-way gubernatorial race. Little, a Republican from Emmett seeking a third term, won the May 19 Republican primary and now faces a field of challengers on November 3.

Little’s Financial Lead

Little’s total contributions reached $2,080,897.75, with a cash balance of $958,103.30 as of Monday’s reporting deadline. His donor base was broadly distributed: companies contributed just over $1 million, individual donors added nearly $994,000, and political committees accounted for an additional $45,500.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador reported the second-highest fundraising total among statewide and legislative candidates, bringing in $570,592.78. Labrador, who won his own primary and is seeking re-election, has been mentioned as a potential future gubernatorial contender, making his fundraising numbers a closely watched indicator of his political standing.

Gubernatorial Challengers Trail Significantly

Among those running against Little in November, retired Idaho Supreme Court Justice John Stegner — running as an independent — raised the most of any challenger, with total contributions of $365,137.90 and a cash balance of $350,265.31. Nearly all of Stegner’s money came from individuals, with just over $17,800 from companies.

Democrat Terri Pickens, who won her party’s primary, raised $134,734.28 and holds a cash balance of approximately $45,336. Her contributions came primarily from individual donors, with small amounts from companies and party committees.

Mark Fitzpatrick, who finished second in the Republican gubernatorial primary, raised $207,392.48 but is not on the November ballot. Libertarian candidate Paul Sand reported contributing just $310 to his own campaign, with no outside contributions. The Constitution Party candidate and the Pro-Life candidate reported no contributions.

The November 3 general election will feature Little alongside Stegner, Pickens, Sand, and the Constitution Party candidate — a notably competitive field by Idaho standards, even if Little’s financial advantage is substantial.

Legislative Fundraising: A House Race to Watch

At the legislative level, state Rep. Steve Berch, a Boise Democrat, led all legislative candidates with $189,850.64 raised — a striking total for a state House race. Berch is seeking re-election in Legislative District 15 and faces Republican Steve Keyser in November for House Seat A. Keyser reported raising just $8,608.28.

Berch has run an unusually high-contact ground campaign, reportedly knocking on 40,000 doors in his district — a figure that reflects both his competitiveness and the competitive nature of his Boise-area seat. The integrity of Idaho’s campaign finance process has drawn attention this cycle, with at least one complaint filed involving a statewide candidate.

Among the top ten fundraisers across statewide and legislative races, seven were Republicans, two were Democrats, and one was an independent.

What’s Next

With the primary behind him and a commanding cash advantage in hand, Little enters the general election season as a heavy favorite. His nearest funded rival, Stegner, has enough resources to run a credible independent campaign, though he begins at a roughly six-to-one fundraising deficit relative to the incumbent.

Pickens will need to close a significant financial gap to mount a competitive Democratic challenge. Idaho has not elected a Democratic governor since Cecil Andrus left office in 1995, making the financial disparities especially meaningful in a state where Republicans hold structural electoral advantages.

Candidates will continue to file campaign finance reports ahead of November 3. Observers tracking competitive statewide and legislative races across Idaho will look to subsequent filings to see whether challengers can narrow the gap as the general election approaches.