May 7, 2026 (Cover image credit: IDGOP FB)
How to Identify a Real Republican
By: Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman
You know, people are always asking me how to tell a real Republican from a fake one, or how to identify a true conservative. Are there Democrats masquerading as Republicans? Libertarians? As chair of the party, I can’t unilaterally declare who is or isn’t a “real Republican”—that’s ultimately up to the voters—but I can tell you what to look for.
The Republican Party was founded in a little schoolhouse in Wisconsin in 1854 by men and women who believed slavery was evil and incompatible with the truths laid out in our founding documents: that all people are created equal and possess the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In the nearly two centuries since, Republicans have built a philosophy centered on limited government, low taxes, individual liberty, and the enduring importance of faith, family, and freedom. In Idaho, that philosophy is reflected in the Idaho GOP Platform, which every federal, statewide, and legislative candidate was invited to affirm, or at least explain where they disagree.
So how do you know who deserves your vote in the Republican primary?
In Idaho, nearly everyone claims to be conservative. Almost every Republican candidate says they’re pro-life. But what does that actually mean? Is that candidate working to weaken Idaho’s abortion ban? Do they support the initiative to legalize abortion? Do they hide behind left-wing euphemisms like “women’s healthcare” or “reproductive health”?
The same goes for the Second Amendment. Plenty of candidates talk tough about gun rights. But do they support red flag laws that allow firearms to be confiscated without due process? Do they echo left-wing talking points like “common sense background checks”?
And every Idaho Republican says they support small government, low taxes, and reduced spending. But pay attention. Did your candidate boast of voting against tax cuts? Do they support expanding the welfare state—taking from those who work to give to those who don’t? Do they act as though your paycheck belongs to the government first, and you should be grateful to keep part of it?
Listen carefully to the words candidates use. Do they sound like Republicans, or Democrats? Do they sound like people you’d meet on a Magic Valley farm, a North Idaho construction site, or in a diner in Salmon, Challis, or Preston? Or do they sound more like the editorial board of a Boise newspaper?
Finally, watch how they treat people. When families flee states like Washington, Oregon, California, and Colorado—escaping high taxes, overregulation, and woke politics—does your candidate welcome them? Or dismiss them as “cowbirds” and outsiders?
Your vote is your tool to build a government that represents your values and preserves the principles upon which the Republican Party was founded. Early and absentee voting is already underway. Vote today, or make a plan to vote May 19. The future of Idaho—and America—depends on it.
