Donald Trump has made his choice in Idaho. And once again, it’s not Raul Labrador.
Trump recently announced his endorsement of sitting Governor Brad Little for re-election. The glowing post on Truth Social called Little “strong,” “highly popular,” and praised him for promoting “Idaho values,” securing the border, and defending the Second Amendment. For Labrador, who built his brand as Idaho’s conservative insider and planned to run against Little again, it’s a very public and personal rejection.
This isn’t the first time Trump has passed him over. In 2018, when Labrador ran against Little in the Republican primary for governor, he expected Trump’s backing. It never came. Trump’s campaign pulled support from Labrador after the Little campaign reminded them of Labrador’s past criticism of Trump. And it’s true—there’s video of Labrador saying he didn’t support Trump in 2016, questioning his character and ability to lead. Those clips have aged poorly in a party where loyalty to Trump is the only currency that counts.
Even Janice “McGlocknbible” McGeachin, the former Lt. Governor who aligned herself with white nationalist figures like Nick Fuentes and openly praised support from Dave Reilly and the Groyper movement, managed to land a Trump endorsement. Her gubernatorial campaign imploded in 2022 amid staff turnover, budget issues, and widespread mockery, but Trump still backed her.
The irony cuts deeper when you look at Labrador’s background. Before his political career, Labrador was an immigration attorney. In fact, his legal practice in Idaho focused on helping undocumented immigrants avoid deportation and remain in the country. While there’s nothing illegal about his immigration work helping undocumented people get a green card, it stands in stark contrast to the hardline immigration policies Trump built his brand around—and to the moves Governor Little has made recently to align himself with that agenda. Trump noticed. And he made his choice.
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Labrador may have tried to rebrand himself over the years as a conservative stalwart, co-founding the Freedom Caucus in Congress, attacking fellow Republicans in the name of conservative purity, and riding the MAGA wave when it was politically convenient. But Trump doesn’t forget who was with him at the start, and who wasn’t. The endorsement didn’t go to the guy who tried to reinvent himself.
Trump’s endorsement of Brad Little has thrown Idaho’s far-right into a tailspin. For years, they’ve attacked Little as a “RINO” while treating Trump as their political messiah. Now, faced with the reality that their hero just backed their enemy, they’re scrambling.
Meanwhile, Labrador is struggling in his current role as Idaho’s Attorney General. He’s dodging depositions in politically charged lawsuits, launching legally shaky investigations into state entities, and filing lawsuits—like his challenge to federal rules around abortion drugs—that have placed him at odds with Trump’s own Department of Justice. He’s managed to frustrate lawmakers, alienate colleagues, and become a headline for all the wrong reasons.
There’s no question Labrador still wants to be governor. But after years of political maneuvering, loyalty pledges, and ideological purity tests, he’s learned the hard way: Trump doesn’t reward those who arrive late or speak out of turn. Even Janice McGeachin—underqualified, controversial, and ultimately unelectable, got the nod before he did.
If there’s anything left of Labrador’s 2026 ambitions, he might need to try a new strategy. Perhaps he should consider begging Elon Musk for an endorsement now he’s also been jilted by President Trump.
About the Author
Gregory Graf is the creator of Political Potatoes and a lifelong conservative Republican. His articles often criticize the hypocrisy committed by far-right grifters who’ve taken control of the GOP. Graf is the CEO of Snake River Strategies, a strategic communications and political consulting firm based in Eagle, Idaho. You can follow Graf’s work on X, Threads, or Facebook.
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Author: Gregory Graf
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