Janice McGeachin

Janice K. McGeachin (born January 18, 1963)[1] is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the 43rd lieutenant governor of Idaho, since 2019. She is the first female lieutenant governor of Idaho.

Janice McGeachin
43rd Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2019
Governor	Brad Little
Preceded by	Brad Little
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the 32nd district
In office December 1, 2002 – December 1, 2012
Preceded by	Larry Bradford (redistricting)
Succeeded by	Marc Gibbs (redistricting)
Personal details
Born	January 18, 1963 Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Jim McGeachin
Children	2
Education	University of Arizona (BS)
Website	Official website

She has previously served as a Republican Idaho State Representative representing District 32 in the A seat from 2002 to 2012.[2]

Early life and education

McGeachin was born on January 18, 1963, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[1] She graduated from Skyline High School in Idaho Falls and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in finance and accounting from the University of Arizona.[1]

Career

Business ventures

McGeachin has had a number of business ventures. She owns a restaurant in Idaho Falls and co-owns a wholesale automotive parts supply store and a torque converter remanufacturing facility with her husband.[3][4]

1998 to 2017

McGeachin unsuccessfully ran for Bonneville County commissioner in 1998, her first bid for elected office.[4] She was a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from 2002 to 2012.[4] As chair of the state House Health and Welfare Committee, she cut Medicaid funding and voted against legislation to create a state-based health insurance exchange.[3] An ally of the Tea Party movement, McGeachin was considered a possible Republican primary challenger to U.S. Representative Mike Simpson in 2010, but chose not to run.[3]

McGeachin was a delegate for Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention, and was vice-chair of Trump's Idaho campaign committee.[5][6][7][8]

Lieutenant governor

In April 2017, McGeachin filed to run for lieutenant governor of Idaho.[9] Her candidacy was supported by state Senator Dean Mortimer.[6][10] McGeachin won the Republican primary election on May 15, 2018, with 28.9% of the vote, and defeated Democratic nominee Kristin Collum in the November general election.[11] During the 2018 campaign, McGeachin took security guards with her to a debate at the Idaho Public Television station in Boise, although there was no known threat against her.[3][12]

In February 2019, McGeachin posted a photo on her Facebook page of her posing in front of her Idaho State Capitol door with two members of the 3 Percenters, an anti-government militia movement group. The men wore shirts promoting Todd Engel, who was sentenced to prison in connection with the Bundy standoff.[13] For the caption, she wrote "Sending love to Todd Engel from the Idaho Capital and 'getting to know' the new Senate Pages."[14][15] McGeachin faced public criticism for the photo and quickly deleted it.[13] In a subsequent statement, McGeachin described the men as "two Second Amendment supporters who were here to support Todd Engel, an Idahoan who was treated unjustly by the court system" and said that she deleted the post after "a few people had begun erroneously assigning sinister motives which are contrary to my true character."[16] The Idaho Falls Post Register editorial board criticized McGeachin for embracing the 3 Percenters and militia movement.[17]

As lieutenant governor, McGeachin has had a strained relationship with Governor Brad Little, a fellow conservative Republican,[5] frequently criticizing his strategy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] In May 2020, Little said he had not spoken to McGeachin in weeks.[19] During the pandemic, McGeachin repeatedly criticized Little for taking steps (such as closing physical businesses) to prevent the spread of the disease.[20][21] In late-April 2020, McGeachin urged reopening all businesses in Idaho by April 30,[22] and also spoke at a protest in eastern Idaho against stay-at-home directives.[23] In a May 2020 editorial, McGeachin wrote that, "I lose sleep at night because the heavy hand of our government is hurting so many Idahoans."[21] By July 2020, after the state's economy had reopened, Idaho saw a spike in coronavirus cases.[21] In August 2020, McGeachin headlined a rally organized by the right-wing, conspiracist John Birch Society at the rally in Twin Falls, where speakers decried public health measures to combat the coronavirus.[18][24] At the rally, McGeachin criticized Little and other state officials.[18][24]

In November 2020, McGeachin submitted a proposal to Governor Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee, seeking to spend $17 million in federal COVID-19 aid funds to purchase and operate two "walk-through disinfectant cubes" at the Idaho state Capitol. McGeachin criticized the governor's coronavirus policies while touting the technology, although a National Institutes of Health study published months earlier determined that the use of "walk-through sanitation gates" was ineffective, possibly dangerous, and violates global health standards.[25]

In July 2020, McGeachin condemned federal economic relief granted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, McGeachin's Idaho Falls-based business accepted two partially forgivable loans, totaling $314,727, from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. After the company's acceptance of the PPP funds was publicized, McGeachin said that the company accepted the funds to counter what she called harm "by the heavy hand of government in 2020."[26]

McGeachin was an Idaho presidential elector for the Republican slate in 2020, casting one of Idaho's four electoral votes for Donald Trump; the other Idaho electors that year were Melinda Smyser, Raul Labrador, and Rod Beck.[27]

In December 2020, the month after Donald Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden, McGeachin, along with Little, Idaho's two Republican U.S. House members, and other Idaho Republican election officials, signed on to an amicus brief supporting Texas' attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election by rejecting millions of votes in four key states won by Biden.[28][29] Legal experts dismissed the suit as meritless,[29] and it was rejected by the Supreme Court.[30]

Political positions

McGeachin belongs to the far-right faction of the Republican Party,[31][32][33][20] and has appeared at a rally for the 3 Percenters, an anti-government militia movement group.[13] She opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, and supports gun rights.[34] She opposes Medicaid expansion and was a leading opponent of 2018 Proposition 2, a voter initiative to expand Medicaid coverage to about 62,000 Idahoans.[34][35] She opposes minimum wages, believing that government should play no role in determining wages.[34]

Electoral history

2002

McGeachin and Republican Representative Larry C. Bradford were re-districted to 31A.

McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary[36] and the general election.[37]

2004

McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary[38] and for the general election.[39]

2006

McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary.[40]

McGeachin won the general election with 71.19% of the vote against Democratic nominee Scott Cannon.[41]

2008

McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary.[42]

McGeachin won the general election with 73% of the vote against Scott Cannon.[43]

McGeachin supported Mitt Romney in the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries.[44]

2010

McGeachin was unopposed for the Republican primary[45] and was for the general election.[46]

McGeachin announced on February 24, 2012 that she would not be seeking re-election.[47]

McGeachin supported Mitt Romney in the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries.[48]

Idaho Lieutenant Governor Republican primary, 2018[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Janice McGeachin	51,079	28.9
	Republican	Steve Yates	48,221	27.3
	Republican	Marv Hagedorn	26,640	15.1
	Republican	Bob Nonini	26,517	15.0
	Republican	Kelley Packer	24,294	13.7

References

1. "House Membership: Janice K. McGeachin". Boise, Idaho: Idaho Legislature. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
2. "Representative Janice K. McGeachin's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
3. Alysha Love, 5 things to know about Idaho's 1st female lieutenant governor, Idaho Statesman (November 9, 2018).
4. Madeleine Coles, McGeachin says business experience will help her in lieutenant governor role, Associated Press (January 13, 2019).
5. Justin Rohrlich, Idaho's Anti-Lockdown Lieutenant Governor Has Gone Rogue, Daily Beast (May 25, 2020).
6. "McGeachin hits campaign trail". Post Register. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
7. "McGeachin: Why I Support Donald Trump". East Idaho News. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
8. "Republican National Convention approaches". Post Register. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
9. "2 more candidates to run for Idaho lieutenant governor". AP News. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
10. Falls, Idaho. "Janice McGeachin announces Lt. Governor candidacy". KPVI. Retrieved 2017-04-20.
11. Almukhtar, Sarah; Andrews, Wilson; Bloch, Matthew; Bowers, Jeremy; Giratikanon, Tom; Lee, Jasmine C.; Murray, Paul (May 17, 2018). "Idaho Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
12. Candidate's security team seen as unusual for Idaho politics, Associated Press (October 24, 2018).
13. Sewell, Cynthia (March 1, 2019). "Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin facing public condemnation over photo with 3 Percenters". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
14. Dawson, Dawson; Druzin, Heath (March 1, 2019). "Idaho Lieutenant Governor Faces Backlash For Photo Supporting Jailed Militiaman". Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
15. Lowe, Emily; Simmons, Tommy (March 1, 2019). "Idaho Lt. Gov. poses with protesters in support of standoff prisoner". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
16. Russell, Betsy Z. (March 1, 2019). "McGeachin in statement: 'I wholeheartedly reject bigotry and discrimination'". Idaho Press. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
17. Editorial Board, Dangerous Embrace of the Militia Movement, Post Register (April 23, 2019).
18. Heath Druzin, Low Turnout For COVID-19 Skeptic Rally Headlined By Idaho Lieutenant Governor, Boise State Public Radio (August 3, 2020).
19. James Dawson, Gov. Little Says He Hasn't Spoken To Lt. Gov McGeachin In Weeks, Boise State Public Radio (May 6, 2020).
20. Rebecca Boone, Idaho healthcare leaders plead for coronavirus mask mandate, Associated Press (July 14, 2020).
21. Rebecca Boone, Cases of coronavirus in Idaho spike after businesses reopen, Associated Press (July 7, 2020).
22. Devin Ramey, Lt. Gov. McGeachin urges Gov. Little to reopen all businesses in Idaho by April 30, KTVB (April 21, 2020).
23. Activist apologizes after refusing to leave playground, Associated Press (April 26, 2020).
24. Ryan Blake, 'Freedom' rally in Twin Falls decries moderate Republicans, public education, masks and the media, Times-News (August 1, 2020).
25. Idaho Lt. Governor promotes 'walk-thru disinfectant cubes', Associated Press (November 25, 2020).
26. Idaho lieutenant governor got pandemic loans for business, Associated Press (December 4, 2020).
27. Idaho’s 4 electors cast votes for Trump and Pence, Associated Press (December 14, 2020).
28. "Motion For Leave (1) To File Brief Of Lieutenant Governor Janice Mcgeachin, Senator Lora Reinbold, Representative David Eastman, Et Al (Elected State Officials) As Amici Curiae In Support Of Plaintiff, And (2) To Do So In An Unbound Format On 8 1⁄2-By-11-Inch Paper, And (3) To Do So Without Ten Days' Advance Notice To The Parties" (PDF). US Supreme Court. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
29. Hayley Harding (December 10, 2020). "Texas wants to overturn millions of votes. Idaho attorney general won't support it". Idaho Statesman.
30. Nomaan Merchant, Alanna Durkin Richer, Mark Sherman (December 12, 2020). "Supreme Court rejects Republican attack on Biden victory". Associated Press – via Idaho Statesman.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
31. "Idaho healthcare leaders plead for coronavirus mask mandate". AP NEWS. 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
32. Statesman, Julia Frankel, Mara Hoplamazian and Malaika Tapper, of The Idaho. "GOP leaders in Idaho have ties to extremist movement". The Lewiston Tribune. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
33. "Militia-loving lieutenant governor leads fight against Idaho's stay-at-home orders". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
34. Lieutenant governor candidates differ on Medicaid, wages, Associated Press (October 18, 2018).
35. Kimberlee Kruesi, Idaho Republicans push opposition to Medicaid expansion, Associated Press (June 29, 2018).
36. "2002 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
37. "2002 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
38. "2004 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
39. "2004 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
40. "2006 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
41. "2006 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
42. "2008 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
43. "2008 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
44. "Mitt Romney-Idaho Organization". www2.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
45. "2010 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
46. "2010 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
47. Hurst, Dustin (Feb 24, 2012). "Days before filing begins, several candidates declare their intentions". Idaho Freedom Foundation. Retrieved Mar 2, 2019.
48. "Idaho endorsements of Mitt Romney". aboutmittromney.com. Retrieved 2017-04-05.