Jill Kirkham for Governor of Idaho

Why I’m running

I’m running for Governor because Idaho is making it harder to do the most conservative thing a person can do: start a family, build a life, and stay. We talk about family values, but families are getting priced out by the cost of living, pushed away by crumbling school buildings, and squeezed by a budget that doesn’t add up.

My “why” moment came when the problems stopped feeling abstract. I saw school facilities falling apart. I saw young families doing everything right and still unable to picture kids, or grandchildren, in their future here. And I watched a wild budget deficit grow while everyday Idahoans were told to just accept it.

I was on vacation out of state when it hit me: I don’t just like Idaho. I want to live here forever. I want my kids to stay. I want my future grandkids to grow up here. But that won’t happen by accident. It takes leadership that can budget responsibly, invest in schools and infrastructure, and bring costs down for working families.

I’m running to make Idaho a place where families can plan, prosper, and stay.