Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Idaho. He lost in the Republican primary on May 19, 2026.
Fitzpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Mark Fitzpatrick earned a bachelor's degree from the California State University, Northridge in 2000. Fitzpatrick's career experience includes working as an owner.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Idaho gubernatorial election, 2026
Idaho gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)
Idaho gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Republican primary)
Idaho gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Libertarian primary)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Governor of Idaho
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Idaho on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Brad Little (R) | |
 | Terri Pickens (D)  | |
 | Pro-Life (Constitution Party) | |
 | Paul Sand (L) | |
| John Stegner (Unaffiliated) | ||
| Jacob Burnett (Independent) (Write-in) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tanner Basye (Independent)
- Ammon Bundy (Independent)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of Idaho
Terri Pickens (D) defeated Jill Kirkham (D), Maxine Durand (D), and Chanelle Torrez (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Idaho on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Terri Pickens | 61.4 | 30,326 |
 | Jill Kirkham | 17.0 | 8,375 | |
 | Maxine Durand | 14.5 | 7,177 | |
| Chanelle Torrez | 7.1 | 3,499 | ||
| Total votes: 49,377 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephen Heidt (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of Idaho
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Idaho on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brad Little | 59.0 | 140,709 |
 | Mark Fitzpatrick | 28.8 | 68,711 | |
 | Lisa Marie | 3.0 | 7,212 | |
 | Justin Plante | 2.2 | 5,283 | |
 | Sean Crystal | 1.9 | 4,556 | |
| Ron James | 1.9 | 4,506 | ||
 | Daniel Fowler | 1.8 | 4,199 | |
 | Ethan Giles | 1.5 | 3,492 | |
| Total votes: 238,668 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jordan Chirat (R)
- Scott Hert (R)
Constitution Party primary
The Constitution Party primary scheduled for May 19, 2026, was canceled. Pro-Life (Constitution Party) advanced from the Constitution Party primary for Governor of Idaho without appearing on the ballot.
Libertarian Party primary
Libertarian primary for Governor of Idaho
Paul Sand (L) defeated Melissa Sue Robinson (L) in the Libertarian Party primary for Governor of Idaho on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Sand | 57.2 | 523 |
 | Melissa Sue Robinson | 42.8 | 392 | |
| Total votes: 915 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Mark Fitzpatrick received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mark Fitzpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fitzpatrick's responses.
| Collapse all
Fitzpatrick is running for Governor of Idaho in the 2026 Republican primary on May 19 to challenge incumbent Brad Little, whom he sees as a weak RINO enabling compromise and insider politics. Fitzpatrick is not a career politician, bringing outsider conviction, and fearing only God, not man. He’ll establish a populist style governorship rallying We the People directly through monthly open town halls, a Governors Podcast, daily social media updates, and mobilizing citizens including young adults to demand real change and hold government accountable. His platform includes slashing taxes drastically, shrinking government, exposing corruption, deporting all illegal aliens, ending incentives for invaders, defending life from conception, parental rights, Second Amendment freedoms, religious liberty, and biological reality in sports and spaces. He opposes Sharia law, gender ideology in schools, foreign funding, and government overreach in healthcare or family decisions.
Vote Mark Fitzpatrick for Governor.- Populist Style: Slash Taxes, Shrink Government Mark Fitzpatrick brings no RINO insider baggage or career politician compromises. We will slash taxes drastically across the board, expose and root out corruption in state government, shrink bloated bureaucracy to the bare essentials, and return power and money to the people. In true populist style, he will rally We the People directly w/ monthly open public town halls, a Governor's Podcast for unfiltered discussions on faith, freedom, borders, and values, near daily social media updates, and massive mobilization of citizens including college students and young adults to demand real change and hold legislators accountable. Principled America First leadership starts now. Vote May 19!
- Secure Borders, Americans First Mark Fitzpatrick will secure Idaho's borders aggressively and put hardworking Americans first in every policy. He will work to deport all illegal aliens, end every incentive that attracts them including benefits and sanctuary policies, ban all sanctuary cities or counties statewide, and fully cooperate with federal enforcement to remove criminal non citizens. No safe havens, no taxpayer funded services for those here illegally, and no more pressure on jobs, housing, schools, or safety nets for Idaho families. Illegal immigration threatens our communities, economy, and sovereignty. Idaho is not for sale. Vote May 19 to restore order and prioritize citizens!
- Faith, Family, Freedom First Mark Fitzpatrick is a faith driven husband, father of six, retired police officer, and bold culture warrior who homeschools his children and defends biblical values unapologetically. As Governor, he will defend life from conception without exception, defend traditional marriage as one man and one woman per Idaho's Constitution, protect parental rights in education and health decisions, safeguard religious liberty for all believers, and enforce biological reality in sports, bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters. No gender ideology or progressive compromise will be tolerated. Idaho will remain God honoring and family first under his leadership. Fear God, not man. Vote May 19 in the Republican primary!
-Ian Carroll, culture commentator/influencer
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Fitzpatrick's campaign website stated the following:
PRIORITY ONE
End Government Waste & Corruption
I will expose and eliminate corruption at every level of government, ensuring no exceptions for elites, backroom deals, or protected interests.
TOP-DOWN AGENCY AUDIT
I’ll establish an independent ethics commission with enforcement authority
Prohibit elected officials from accepting lobbyist gifts
Reduce bloated agencies through targeted waste elimination and bureaucracy cuts
Open Government
I’ll strengthen Idaho’s public records law with shorter response deadlines
I’ll require all legislative committee meetings to be livestreamed
I’ll create a public dashboard tracking state spending in real time
Citizen Protections
Safeguard the citizen initiative and referendum process from legislative interference
I will veto any legislation that weakens Idaho’s citizen initiative and referendum process and propose reforms that strengthen voter access and ballot transparency
Ensure government exists solely to serve the people, not control them
PRIORITY TWO
Protect Constitutional Rights
I’ll defend the Constitution without compromise — your right to speak freely, worship freely, and bear arms is non-negotiable.
PROTECT the 2nd Amendment
I’ll oppose any state or federal legislation that infringes on the right to keep and bear arms
I’ll support constitutional carry and concealed carry reciprocity
I’ll defend Idaho’s preemption law preventing local gun restrictions
ENFORCE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
I’ll defend free speech, free assembly, and the right to worship without government interference
I will ensure Idaho law protects religious liberty to the fullest extent allowed under the U.S. Constitution and defend citizens against government policies that burden sincerely held religious beliefs
I’ll stand firm when culture and bureaucracy push back against faith
PRIORITY THREE
Education and Parental Rights
I’ll put parents first, protect children, and invest in Idaho’s workforce by prioritizing how existing education funding is actually used.
PARENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTED
Parents, not bureaucrats, decide what their children learn
I’ll guarantee full curriculum transparency for every school
I’ll expand school choice so families have real options
TRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION
Idaho already generates tens of millions through the Lottery; I’ll reprioritize that funding toward real job training, not bureaucracy
Expand apprenticeship pipelines tied directly to Idaho employers
Put workforce development ahead of administrative spending
Higher Education Access
Stop sending Lottery dollars into government building projects first—put students first
Use existing Lottery funds to expand scholarships and reduce costs
I’ll invest in community college capacity for high-demand fields
PRIORITY FOUR
Deportation and Illegal Immigration
I will require full cooperation between Idaho law enforcement & federal immigration authorities, prohibit any local policies that obstruct federal law, and ensure Idaho does not provide benefits or safe harbor to those who are in the country illegally
BACK FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
I will support federal efforts to secure the southern border while strengthening Idaho’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling within our own communities
I’ll support increased funding for Border Patrol agents and technology
I will prohibit any state or local policy that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and ensure Idaho remains fully compliant with federal law
Open Government
I’ll strengthen Idaho’s public records law with shorter response deadlines
I’ll require all legislative committee meetings to be livestreamed
I’ll create a public dashboard tracking state spending in real time
PRIORITY FIVE
Property Tax Reform
I’ll ensure Idaho families are not taxed out of their homes by reforming the state’s broken property tax system.
Cap Property Tax Increases
I will propose legislation to limit annual property tax growth for primary residences and tie increases to inflation to prevent families from being taxed out of their homes
I’ll require voter approval for any levy or bond that exceeds the cap
I’ll protect seniors and disabled homeowners with an enhanced homestead exemption
HOMEOWNER TAX RELIEF
I’ll rebalance the property tax formula so commercial and industrial properties pay their fair share
I’ll close loopholes that allow large landholders to avoid reassessment
I’ll create a transparent public dashboard for property tax rates by county
LOCAL GOV'T ACCOUNTABILITY
I’ll require local governments to hold public hearings before any property tax increase
I’ll mandate fiscal transparency reports for all taxing districts
I’ll empower citizens with easier access to tax assessment appeals
PRIORITY SIX
Water & Agriculture
I’ll protect Idaho’s water rights and support the agricultural economy that sustains our rural communities.
Defend Idaho Water Rights
I will aggressively defend Idaho’s water sovereignty in coordination with the Attorney General and push back against federal overreach that infringes on our state-managed water system
I’ll invest in aquifer recharge and water storage infrastructure
I’ll ensure that water policy prioritizes Idaho farmers and ranchers over out-of-state interests
Back Family Farms/Ranches
I’ll reduce regulatory burden on small and mid-sized agricultural operations
I’ll expand access to low-interest loans and crop insurance for beginning farmers
I’ll promote value-added agriculture and local food systems
PRIORITY SEVEN
Energy Independence
I’ll achieve energy independence through an all-of-the-above approach that keeps costs low for Idaho families.
Cheaper Energy for Families
I will appoint Public Utilities Commissioners committed to protecting Idaho ratepayers and opposing policies that unnecessarily increase electricity costs
I’ll support hydropower as Idaho’s backbone energy source
I’ll promote energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses
Expand Energy Production
I’ll support responsible development of all Idaho energy resources
I’ll encourage nuclear energy innovation and small modular reactors
I’ll support the Idaho National Laboratory as a center of innovation
PRIORITY EIGHT
Healthcare Access
I’ll ensure every Idahoan has access to affordable, quality healthcare, especially in rural communities.
Protect Rural Healthcare
I’ll prevent rural hospital closures through targeted state funding
I’ll expand telehealth services to every corner of the state
I’ll recruit and retain healthcare providers in underserved areas
LOWER PRESCRPTION COSTS
I’ll support state-level drug price transparency legislation
I will pursue all available federal waivers to allow safe prescription drug importation and increase competition to lower costs for Idaho families
I’ll encourage generic drug competition and biosimilar adoption
PRIORITY NINE
Public Lands and Natural Resources
I’ll protect Idaho’s public lands, forests, and wildlife for current and future generations.
Public Land in Public Hands
I’ll oppose any transfer of federal lands to the state or private interests
I’ll advocate for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
I’ll protect access for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation
Wildfire Prevention
I’ll increase state funding for wildfire prevention and suppression
I’ll support active forest management to reduce wildfire risk
I’ll improve air quality monitoring during fire season
PRIORITY TEN
Infrastructure & Transportation
I’ll invest in Idaho’s roads, bridges, and broadband to support economic growth and public safety.
Fix Idaho’s Roads & Bridges
I’ll prioritize maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure over new projects
I’ll increase state funding for local road improvements in rural counties
I’ll implement performance-based project selection to maximize return on investment
Expand Broadband to Every Idaho Community
I’ll leverage federal broadband funding to connect underserved rural areas
I’ll reduce permitting barriers for broadband providers
I’ll establish a statewide broadband office to coordinate deployment
— Mark Fitzpatrick's campaign website (April 22, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 23, 2026
