Ammon Bundy, the anti-government activist who’s running to become Idaho’s next governor, said he will withdraw from the Republican primary and run as an independent instead.
In a press release Thursday, Bundy said he aligns himself with the Republican party platform, but that the Idaho GOP is “full of filth and corruption.”
He then mentioned several scandals involving current or former Idaho Republican officials, including former state party chair Jonathan Parker, who was arrested for allegedly wearing a wig and masturbating outside his estranged wife’s apartment.
Bundy also called out Sen. Mike Crapo and former Gov. Butch Otter’s DUI arrests, former Sen. Larry Craig propositioning a police officer in an airport bathroom and current state Rep. Greg Chaney’s (R-Caldwell) arrest for a domestic dispute with his ex-wife.
“On top of this, the Idaho Republican establishment lead by Brad Little have put forth liberal, Democrat policies like increased welfare, meanwhile shoving the Republican Party platform of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and ending abortion in the garbage,” he wrote.
In his original release, Bundy said former Ada County Sheriff Steve Bartlett resigned his post "for trading promotion to his deputies for sexual favors." Bundy deleted that post within about an hour, with the new statement saying Bartlett "allegedly" traded promotions for sex.
Bartlett didn't immediately return a request for comment.
KTVB first reported his sudden retirement on Memorial Day 2021 — less than six months into his new, four-year term. He said in an email to staff he was stepping down to "attend to a couple personal items and scheduling in my life."
Bundy has long criticized the Idaho GOP and party leaders haven’t embraced him either. Last June, state Republican party chairman Tom Luna issued a statement saying Bundy wasn’t welcome in the GOP.
“...we do not support his antics or his chaotic political theater. That is not the Idaho Republican Party, and we will not turn a blind eye to his behaviors,” Luna said.
Bundy is best known for his leadership in staging an armed takeover of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon in 2016, as well as his role in a standoff against federal agents at his father’s ranch in Nevada in 2014.
He’s also launched his own movement, known as People’s Rights, which have led protests over public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, KBOI radio host Nate Shelman said “multiple sources” told him Bundy would withdraw from the Republican primary and endorse an opponent, current Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin. Should she lose, Shelman said, Bundy would run as an independent.
Bundy called it “an intriguing idea,” but that neither of them agreed to such a deal.
“In the future, this radio host should think twice about running with information he gets from that source,” he said.
In a phone call Thursday, Shelman said he "stands by everything he said on-air."
Boise State political science professor Jaclyn Kettler said it could be a savvy political move regardless of why Bundy chose to do so.
“In a crowded primary like that it can be hard to build your base, especially if you’re ideologically similar to other candidates,” Kettler said.
Both he and McGeachin overlap on many far-right positions, such as returning control of federal lands back to the states. Both have been affiliated with militias and their campaign surrogates have urged their opponents to drop out of the race to avoid splitting votes in the primary.
“Today's announcement by Ammon Bundy that he is withdrawing from the Republican Gubernatorial Primary makes it all the more clear that there is only one viable conservative candidate in this race,” McGeachin said in a press release Thursday morning.
Another opponent, Ed Humphreys, a political newcomer and financial planner from Eagle, shares ideological views with Bundy and McGeachin as well.
It’s unclear whether Bundy plans to run as a candidate within the Independent Party of Idaho, or as an unaffiliated candidate. A text message sent to his campaign manager, Wendy Leatham, asking for clarification wasn’t immediately returned.
Political candidates in Idaho aren’t yet able to file for office. Right now, the filing period opens Feb. 28 and runs through March 11, though a bill under consideration at the state legislature would shorten that filing period.
At this time, no other candidate associated with the Independent Party of Idaho has filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office to designate a campaign treasurer.
One other candidate, John Dionne from Boise, has launched a campaign as an unaffiliated candidate.
Idaho’s primary is set for May 17 and the general election will be held Nov. 8.
Follow James Dawson on Twitter @RadioDawson for more local news.
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