Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) made national news in October when The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) highlighted our work.
While their report revealed the importance of IFF's Freedom and Spending indexes, it also exposed key obstacles to advancing conservative policy in the Gem State.
The report, titled "I Went Back to Idaho to See How the Hard-Right Transformed This Deep Red State," seemed to be angled around the "far-right" taking over Idaho. But instead, the outlet illuminated the powerful special interests — and the legislators beholden to them — fighting Idaho's conservative values.
On a more positive note, the WSJ also reported on IFF's conservative priorities and highlighted our Freedom and Spending Indexes.
The WSJ turned to Republican state Rep. Jack Nelsen, who "proudly" received F ratings from IFF on both indexes, for his take on Idaho's political landscape.
"Organizations like the [Idaho] Freedom Foundation have had a huge impact on how legislators vote, and how some of my constituents think," Nelsen admitted to the WSJ.
He also told the outlet he has "not signed the Republican platform … as an elected Republican" (Nelsen announced earlier in 2026 he would not seek reelection). He was censured by the Blaine and Lincoln County Republican Central Committees in 2025.
He voted against a myriad of conservative bills, such as House Bill 239, which in part mandated that school districts alert parents before any educational instruction concerning human sexuality. IFF gave the bill a positive (+2) rating.
Nelsen also opposed House Bill 352, which aimed to amend the Parental Rights in Education statute by banning classroom instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation in K-12 education. IFF gave the bill a positive (+1) rating.
The WSJ also spoke with Republican state Rep. Clint Hostetler and pointed to his IFF Freedom Index score. He has an A rating on the Freedom Index and an A+ rating on the Spending Index.
"One of the issues the Idaho Freedom Foundation has supported is a hard stance on immigration," the WSJ noted.
Indeed, IFF's 2027 Freedom and Family Agenda specifically highlights illegal immigration and the costs it imposes on taxpayers, as well as the need to ensure only citizens in Idaho vote in our elections. IFF has also supported good immigration legislation, such as House Bill 660 to mandate local and state law enforcement agencies record and verify the nationality and immigration status of arrested individuals. IFF gave it a positive (+1 rating); IFF has also made our stance on illegal immigration clear in numerous articles.
The WSJ's report highlighted pushback from some dairy industry operators over conservative immigration policies. The dairy industry, with groups like Idaho Dairy Men, has a powerful lobbying arm. Idaho special interest groups are alive and well in the Gem State — but IFF serves as a crucial voice for all Idahoans.
Even a New York City-based outlet recognizes IFF's influence in advancing pro-freedom policies. Though the report at times seemed to suggest Idahoans could be gravitating toward more moderate politics, the outlet still framed the story as though the "hard right" has an iron grip on Idaho.
Neither angle appears to accurately reflect the Gem State. In reality, it would seem Idaho's government is not as conservative as most Idahoans, which many legislators — and executive officials — have demonstrated by supporting wasteful spending and killing effective, conservative bills.
The WSJ played a video showing IFF President Ron Nate cautioning, "Idaho is under threat always from becoming the next blue state." Not because Idaho residents support the policies of their blue-state neighbors, but because legislators routinely vote against Idahoans' interests (just take a look at IFF's 2026 Pork Report).
The danger facing Idaho isn't a hard-right transformation, but a milquetoast brand of establishment politics paving the way for a socialist takeover of our institutions — precisely what happened in Colorado, and what IFF is fighting here in the Gem State.
The national media took notice, underscoring the importance of IFF's mission to defeat socialism and hold government accountable. We will oblige.
Eireann is a local government policy analyst at Idaho Freedom Foundation. She was previously a reporter and editor at Daily Caller. She majored in journalism at Liberty University.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller.
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