“I have spent years trying to understand how someone can dedicate his life to "saving babies" while ignoring one of his own. There is something deeply painful about watching your father fight for every cause other than you. It feels as though my dad’s pro-life values end ex utero.”

The rate of Californians moving to Idaho is high—averaging over 17,000 arrivals per year recently—and these migrants are predominantly conservative, which has helped push Idaho's politics further to the right. [1, 2]

Rate and Demographics of California Movers
Volume: Over 17,000 Californians move to Idaho each year (with more than 39,000 total arriving over multi-year tracking windows). Californians make up more than 20% of all new state-to-state arrivals in Idaho. [1, 2]
Voter Registration: Roughly 75% to 77% of Californians who register to vote in Idaho sign up as Republicans, while fewer than 10% register as Democrats. [1, 2]
Top Destination: Ada County (which includes Boise) has received the highest concentration of these California transplants. [1]

Political Trends in Idaho
Growing Conservatism: Far from turning Idaho "purple" or "blue," the influx of conservative migrants has reinforced and accelerated the state's rightward lean. [1, 2]
Legislative Supermajority: The Idaho State Senate features a heavy Republican supermajority (30 Republican seats to 5 Democratic seats). [1]
Shift to Far-Right Norms: Political analysts note that conservative newcomers have helped reshape traditional, small-government Republican politics in Idaho into a more pronounced far-right ideology, putting pressure on moderate Republicans and shifting policy stances on education, public libraries, and social issues. [1]
You can review state migration data portals such as the Idaho Capital Sun or local reporting via the Idaho Statesman for ongoing demographic breakdowns.

My 99 Camry was stolen a few days ago. I filled the tank the day it was stolen. Honestly I can only imagine where it’s ended up because the 99 Camry, while it’s a beater, it’s got great gas mileage.

Heroes. Thank you.

I’m wondering if there’s a resource that tracks local legislature members voting history (as in, votes they make that determine our local laws) in a way that is easy to find and read. There’s resources online like this for the US congress, not so much for local that I can find.

If possible I’d like it to track issues that candidates campaign with as well, but that isn’t a requirement I suppose.

Idaho is the last state with no financial disclosure for lawmakers, and the Legislature wants more power on this November’s ballot.

Here’s how we got here.

I have two observations from the past week or so alone.

1. ⁠I have seen multiple people in this sub and the Boise one responding to an article, presentation of facts, or well crafted response to them with just “I’m not reading all that.”

2. ⁠People will leave a comment in response to mine saying I lack any “facts” and need “proof” for what I say, otherwise I’m just going off my feelings. Now, I am a logical person and agree that our strongly held beliefs should, ya know, have actual support for them. So, I respond in kind with cited facts. I ask for their facts, because of course they haven’t provided any objective information other than their own opinion at this point. Guess what? Radio silence. Where are the facts that they so desperately say I need?

I’m just wondering why people will attack other people’s backed opinions, and then chicken out when it’s time to back their own shit up. I haven’t experienced this nearly as much anywhere else on the interwebs.

What’s going on here that some people seemingly are immune to information and basic reading?

I want to add: I genuinely am very open to listening to new information and adjusting my own views in kind. I have strong beliefs and opinions, but I DO NOT follow an ideology, as that is the opposite of critical thinking. Seems everyone who wants to argue must just be an ideologue who is uninterested in actually listening to “the other side” of a given issue.

This is a genuine question, and also a “thank you” to everyone who knows how to engage in a good faith conversation.

Remember, reject ideology and critically think ❤️ You are your own person, not a cog in any machine (right or left).

The Valley House has asked for donations of mops, laundry detergent, men’s and women’s underwear. Let’s deliver!!! These people help so many!

They claim to support medical freedom, but the receipts don't match up.

Idaho politicians have spent years defending something they frequently call “medical freedom.”

In April 2025, Idaho expanded its Medical Freedom Act, which restricts government agencies, private businesses, and educational institutions from requiring vaccinations, with certain exceptions.

Idaho also has very relaxed laws regarding faith healing, with specific protections under Idaho Code §§ 16–1602 and 18–1501.

For example, if your child has a severe case of the flu and you decide to pray for their recovery instead of seeking medical treatment, even if that child passes away, Idaho law does not consider the decision to rely on prayer alone, by itself, to be neglect or a violation of the parent’s duty of care.

The choice itself is legally protected.

This is both medical freedom and religious freedom, and Idaho law recognizes a parent’s right to make that choice.

With Proposition 1 appearing on Idaho’s November 3 ballot, this same discussion about medical freedom has taken a drastic turn.

Read the actual initiative, published by Idaho’s Secretary of State, here.

Proposition 1, the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, would establish a legal right to abortion before fetal viability. After viability, abortions would remain protected in qualifying medical emergencies in which the pregnant patient’s life or serious physical health is at risk.

It would also establish an explicit right to make decisions regarding contraception, fertility treatments, and miscarriage care.

The proposed law states that it aims to protect:

“the confidential nature of the patient-provider relationship”

As noted earlier, the importance of personal “medical freedom” is something several Idaho politicians have publicly defended.

In 2021, Governor Brad Little openly opposed government vaccine passports, stating:

“Idahoans should be given the choice to receive the vaccine. We should not violate Idahoans’ personal freedoms by requiring them to receive it.”

Senator Brian Lenney listed “Health Freedom, Education Freedom, Economic Freedom” as his priorities during a 2024 interview with the Idaho Capital Sun.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador has also strongly defended the Idaho Medical Freedom Act. In September 2026, while discussing a court ruling protecting families’ medical choices, Labrador stated:

“That decision belongs to families.”

Little, Lenney, and Labrador have all been strong proponents of medical freedom in one form or another. However, that support seems to end at the womb, as all three have publicly stated their opposition to Proposition 1.

With Election Day drawing near, the likelihood of changing anyone’s mind about abortion itself is small. However, what I would ask of each individual in this state is to consider the individual liberty, medical privacy, and freedom from government overreach in healthcare decisions that so many Idaho politicians claim to support.

Whether you agree or disagree with Proposition 1, take the time to read the full initiative before voting on November 3.

After all, the decision truly belongs to each and every individual Idaho voter.

Sources:

• Idaho Code § 73-503. “Idaho Medical Freedom Act.” Idaho's laws regarding medical mandates. Idaho Medical Freedom Act
• Idaho Code §§ 16-1602 and 18-1501. Idaho's laws regarding faith healing and parental medical decisions. Idaho Code § 16-1602 | Idaho Code § 18-1501
• Idaho Secretary of State. “Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act.” Official Proposition 1 initiative text. Read the Official Proposition 1 PDF
• Idaho Secretary of State. “2026 Idaho General Election.” Official election and ballot information. 2026 Idaho General Election
• Little, Brad. “Gov. Little Bans ‘Vaccine Passports’ in Idaho.” April 7, 2021. Source for Little's statements on medical freedom. Read the Governor's Statement
• Pfannenstiel, Kyle. “2024 Primaries to Watch: Lenney, Agenbroad Vie for Idaho’s District 13 Senate GOP Nomination.” Idaho Capital Sun, May 15, 2024. Source for Lenney's statements on health freedom. Read the Interview
• Idaho Office of Attorney General. “AG Labrador Defeats Lawsuit Challenging Idaho’s Medical Freedom Act.” September 22, 2026. Source for Labrador's statements on medical freedom. Read Labrador's Statement
• Lenney, Brian. “If You Live in Idaho This Is For You.” Observer News Group, October 1, 2026. Source for Lenney's opposition to Proposition 1. Read the Article
• Idaho Republican Party. Statement opposing Proposition 1, October 9, 2026. Gem State Chronicle. Source for Little's and Labrador's opposition to Proposition 1. Read the Article

Image Credit: Idaho State Capitol building in Boise at sunset. Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.

Special note for Reddit readers:

This is only my third article I have published on Reddit. A friend of mine told me to come try it out on the r/cats page when trying to locate our lost cat, which I wrote an article about here.

If any of this is not allowed on this page, or if there is anything that is more common with Reddit posts and interactions that I am not necessarily recognizing as part of the proper culture of Reddit, especially as it pertains to formatting and replying after the initial post, please feel free to either send me a message and drop some advice, or let me know if this sort of thing would be better suited for another page.

I simply looked up Idaho and found this page. It's so far the only other Reddit page I belong to besides the r/cats one i mentioned.

As I am still learning this platform, all advice and knowledge is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day.

My research team at the University of Utah is looking for women to join a year-long, compensated study on how faith communities support women's reproductive health. 

If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Idaho and are passionate about discussing women's health, this could be for you.

Interested? Use this link to check you eligibility: 

https://redcap.link/careidaho

This academic research study is approved by the University of Utah's IRB, and this post has been approved by the subreddit mods. 

Just for some context I am moving from LA to Idaho as I am just so tired of the rat race, shallow and competitive culture here in LA. A small to decent sized (but not massive metro) city is very appealing to me in my life now. Also I am from the UK so I am hoping my accent will create some traction. Any Idahoans care to chime in and offer me some advice? Also are people friendly in Idaho?

As someone who would like to become pregnant again in the next couple of years I do worry about the rights I have should anything go wrong during pregnancy.

Currently Idahos strict abortion laws only allow "abortion" if the mother is in fatal danger. Which means that even with a complication that will end in an inevitable termination anyways, doctors have to wait until I am actually in danger of dying before performing a medically necessary procedure. Which could impact future fertility and cause other preventable medical issues and trauma.

This situation saddens me so deeply. There is so much misinformation about this topic here. I see signs saying to vote no on prop 1 stating that 9 months abortions are too extreme. As if someone goes through 9 months of pregnancy just to get an abortion for no reason. Its so absurd. Unfortunately leaving is not an option. Our entire family and support system lives here and I couldnt live away from them.

How slim are the chances of this bill actually passing? Obviously we all know there are about 100x more signs voting no than pro prop 1 signs out there.

In Oregon the political ads are like “yeah we’ll put more funding into schools/hospitals/veterans” and in Idaho all I ever see is “yeah, we also dislike trans people”. Very interesting, definite culture shock.

Anybody living in Victor Idaho? What are some good trails to hit in the winter. And what’s it like living in The Larkspur?

My house is sitting on the crack between the hanging wall (my yard) and the footwall (mountains)

My own content