EAGLE, ID — Dr. Tommy Ahlquist's campaign for Idaho Governor today announced the formal launch of its statewide grassroots leadership team, with county chairs in all 44 Idaho counties and more than 107 business and community conservative leaders joining the campaign team.
Historic Grassroots Organization
The announcement marked a major milestone in the Tommy Ahlquist gubernatorial campaign — the formal organization of a statewide grassroots network covering all 44 Idaho counties, supplemented by more than 107 business and community leaders who pledged their personal support and organizational resources to the campaign.
"My team is comprised of business and community leaders and conservative activists who agree that less talk and more action gets things done in the real world — and it's time to bring that mindset to the Governor's office," Tommy said. "I'm humbled and excited to stand with this passionate group of hard-working community servants as we strive together to build an even better Idaho. It is our grassroots support that will win this election. Join this movement today."
Statewide Grassroots Leadership
The campaign's statewide leadership team included some of Idaho's most recognized and respected community figures:
Kristin Armstrong
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist
Larry Williams
Founder of Idaho Timber Corp.
Lorna Finman
Head of LCF Enterprises and STEM Revolution in North Idaho
Tammy DeWeerd
Mayor, Meridian Idaho
Doug Pickett
Owner of Pickett Ranch
Tyler Hurst
Grassroots Chairman, 2nd Vice Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
County Chairs Across Idaho
The campaign organized county chairs in every one of Idaho's 44 counties — a level of geographic organization rarely achieved in Idaho gubernatorial campaigns, particularly by a first-time candidate running without the institutional advantages of career politicians.
Ada County
Rob McQuade, Camille Wells, Brad Christensen, Kent Goldthorpe, Elijah Watkins
Bannock County
Lance Kolbet, Shane W. Moulton, Max Shaffer, Fahim Rahim
Bonneville County
Stephanie Mickelson, Emily Milton, Commissioner Bryon Reed, Kristine Staten
Canyon County
Mayor Garrett Nancolos, Joe Bell, Mayor Darin Taylor
Kootenai County
Joshua Dahlstrom, Jason Ball, Justin Godbehere
Twin Falls County
Chenele Dixon, Steve Millington, Don Zuck
Cassia County
Heidi Cranney, Nick Robinson
Latah County
David Brown, Lindsey Laprath, Dale Miller
Nez Perce County
Tom Eier, Mark Jennings, Sharon Garda
Madison County
Leo Castagno, David Taylor, Leon Anderson
All 44 Counties
County chairs were organized in every single Idaho county — from Boundary in the north to Bear Lake in the south.
Specialized Coalitions
In addition to the county chair network, the campaign organized specialized coalitions targeting key constituencies:
Small Business Coalition
Tommy's Small Business Coalition brought together dozens of small business leaders from across Idaho who were advocating for Tommy's candidacy and advising on small business policy. Coalition leadership included Ron Nilson (Chair, Kootenai County), Sylvia Hample (Co-Chair, Ada County), and Laura Anderson (Co-Chair, Power County), with dozens of members from every region of the state.
Farm & Ranch Coalition
Idaho's agricultural community rallied around Tommy's candidacy through a dedicated Farm and Ranch Coalition. Agricultural leaders praised Tommy's commitment to fighting federal overreach on water and land management and his understanding of the business challenges facing Idaho's farming and ranching families.
What Campaign Leaders Said
"Tommy's fresh approach, new ideas and a long-standing track record of successful leadership are something we all believe in. We've seen a groundswell of support and our growing campaign team covers every inch of the state — standing together in strong support of Tommy and his Blueprint for Building an Even Better Idaho."
— Tyler Hurst, Grassroots Chairman, 2nd Vice Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
"Accomplishments require shared vision, a plan and action — and Tommy has successfully taken vision and plans and turned them into reality in every area of his life — from family and being an ER doctor to building small businesses and creating thousands of Idaho jobs. I can think of no one better suited to boldly lead Idaho into the future than Tommy Ahlquist."
— Kristin Armstrong, Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist
"I am honored to serve alongside Tommy because not only is he a man of integrity, but a man of action. Tommy is a committed conservative who will bring bold reforms to Boise — from cutting wasteful spending to sweeping ethics reforms — and Tommy has the track record to get it done and get it done successfully."
— Steve Millington, Twin Falls County Chair and Chairman of the Twin Falls Republican Party