December 18, 2025
The Role of the Idaho GOP Platform
By: Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman
A lot of folks ask me what the Idaho GOP stands for. With 90 elected legislators, seven elected statewide officials, two senators, two congressmen, hundreds of precinct committeemen, thousands of volunteers, and over 600,000 Republican voters, we have a lot of healthy debate on a variety of issues.
However, there is one document that defines the mission of the Idaho Republican Party, and that is our Platform—a statement of principles that Idaho Republicans are expected to uphold. It is debated, amended, and adopted every two years by delegates at our State Convention. You can check out the current Idaho GOP Platform on our website, idgop.org, right now.
The question for voters is: how do you know if someone is upholding the principles and ideas in the Platform? Lawmakers vote on hundreds of bills each year, and even more in committee—not to mention the countless statements they make in debate, to the press, or on the campaign trail. How can voters know whether their elected officials are voting the same way they campaigned?
There are many outside organizations that score legislation and lawmakers, aiming to give voters additional information before they cast their ballots. I believe this is commendable, and I think these scorecards can be important resources for voters and citizens.
Recently, some publications have issued scorecards claiming to rate lawmakers based on the Idaho GOP Platform. To be clear, none of these scorecards are officially endorsed by the Idaho Republican Party or the Republican National Committee. These ratings reflect only the opinions of the organizations that create them.
The Idaho GOP does not rate legislation or individual lawmakers. Our mission is to enlist and engage voters in support of Republican candidates and the principles expressed in our Platform. Ultimately, it is the voters who decide who represents them in the State Legislature.
I am also deeply concerned about the growing use of artificial intelligence to “analyze” legislation in relation to our Platform. While AI is advancing rapidly, it can never replace God-given human reason and discernment—especially when it comes to judging a person’s commitment to our values.
Too often, scorecards have been used as weapons against fellow Republicans rather than as tools for understanding. Voters deserve accurate, honest information about where their lawmakers truly stand on the issues that matter most, and how those positions align with the principles of our Platform—not interpretations distorted to serve a factional agenda.
The Idaho Republican Party will continue to stand for faith, family, and freedom, as outlined in our Platform. I look forward to the 2026 Idaho GOP Convention in Meridian next summer, where delegates will once again discuss and debate the direction of our party for the years ahead.
