June 15, 2026
As Idaho’s Republican National Committeeman, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the upcoming election for Idaho Republican Party Chair, and after careful consideration, I’m Supporting Mark Fuller for IDGOP Chairman.
Serving as Chair is a Sprint.
Serving as State Party Chair is not a leisurely cakewalk—it is a demanding sprint. Every day brings pressure, criticism, fundraising, organizing, travel, media attention, and the responsibility of keeping a large and diverse party moving in the same direction. It requires enormous energy, focus, and commitment.
Dorothy Moon has carried that responsibility for two full terms—that’s four years. She has worked hard, sacrificed countless hours, and dedicated herself to advancing the Republican Party. For that, she deserves our gratitude and respect.
But a relay race is won by a team, not by asking one runner to carry the baton forever. In a 4×400 relay, even the strongest runner eventually reaches the exchange zone—not because they have failed, but because that is how winning teams operate.
One runner gives everything they have, then passes the baton to a fresh teammate who can carry it through the next lap with new energy and renewed focus.
Idaho Republicans Have Reached That Exchange Zone.
Even strong institutions benefit from fresh leadership and renewed perspective. While serving as president of BYU, Dallin H. Oaks wrote in a confidential 1978 letter to Church leaders, “It is in the best interests of the university to have a policy of regular turnover in the office of president.”
President Oaks understood an important principle: leadership transition is not a sign of failure. Often, it is the very mechanism that brings fresh ideas, renewed energy, and new momentum to an organization.
Dorothy has run her laps honorably and well. Now it is time to pass the baton to Mark Fuller—a proven conservative leader with the energy, vision, and determination to lead our party through the next stage of the race. Let us thank Dorothy Moon for her service, honor the work she has done, and unite behind Mark Fuller as we continue the race toward victory.
Mark is Ready to Seize the Baton.
His record speaks for itself. Mark served six years as Chairman of the Bonneville County Republican Party, where he built one of the most successful county organizations in Idaho. Under his leadership, the Bonneville County Lincoln Day events became legendary, attracting nationally known conservative speakers such as Candace Owens, Larry Elder, Dinesh D’Souza, Judge Jeanine Pirro, James O’Keefe of Project Veritas, and David Barton of WallBuilders. Those events energized Republicans and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance conservative causes.
Mark also brings valuable state party experience, having served as Second Vice Chairman and currently as First Vice Chairman. He understands our party, our grassroots, and the challenges we face because he has already been helping lead the effort. But what excites me most is Mark’s vision for the future.
He understands that a successful party must have the resources to compete and win. That is why fundraising is one of his top priorities. Mark has a proven record of raising money, and he understands that stronger fundraising translates directly into stronger candidates, better voter outreach, and more Republican victories.
The Need is Clear.
Republicans enjoy an overwhelming voter registration advantage in Idaho, yet over the past two years Republicans have raised only about $425,000 per year, while Democrats have raised about $570,000 per year. Because Republicans have approximately 620,000 registered voters and Democrats have approximately 118,000 registered voters, that means we have raised only about 69 cents per registered Republican, while Democrats have raised approximately $4.84 per registered Democrat—roughly seven times more per voter.
It is NOT a Voter Problem—it is a Fundraising Problem.
Mark recognizes that if we are going to capitalize on our registration advantage, we must do a much better job converting Republican support into the resources necessary to win elections.
He is also committed to restoring the professional infrastructure of the Idaho Republican Party by hiring an Executive Director. The party has operated without an Executive Director for more than a year, despite party rules requiring one. Mark recognizes that effective day-to-day management is essential if we are going to maximize fundraising, communications, grassroots engagement, and candidate support.
Defeating Liberals This Fall is Paramount.
Most importantly, Mark is focused on winning elections. He has identified Legislative Districts 6, 15, 26, and 29 as key battlegrounds where a focused state party effort can make the difference. Together, those districts contain twelve legislative races that will help determine the size of our Republican majorities in the Idaho Legislature.
Rather than simply defending our current position, Mark is focused on expanding Republican representation. That means helping candidates like Dan Foreman, Colton Bennett, Brandon Mitchell, Desi Burbank, Steve Keyser, Dori Healey, Bryan Hyde, Mike Pohanka, Lyle Johnstone, John Crowder, Dustin Manwaring, and Jennifer Miles win their races with the resources, organization, and support they need to prevail. Mark understands that the state party’s job is not merely to exist—it is to help Republicans win elections.
He is also prepared for the major battles ahead, including defeating the well-funded abortion initiative expected to appear on the ballot. Mark understands that victory requires organization, communication, resources, and leadership.
We Must Restore Executive Committee Wisdom and Experience.
Mark will restore balance to the party by fully utilizing the experience and talent of the Executive Committee. We have 17 voting members on that committee. If their average age is just 45, that represents more than 765 years of combined life experience, leadership, and judgment. Yet too much of that knowledge and talent has been sitting on the sidelines.
A successful state party should never depend on one person trying to do everything alone, no matter how hardworking or dedicated they may be. The strongest organizations build teams, delegate responsibility, and empower leaders to contribute. Mark’s plan is to tap into that deep well of experience, engage the Executive Committee in setting priorities, and create a leadership team that can accomplish far more together than any one individual ever could alone.
Mark has demonstrated throughout his career that he can build organizations, inspire volunteers, raise money, and deliver results. He is ready to take the baton and lead Idaho Republicans through the next lap of the race.
As Idaho’s Republican National Committeeman, I am proud to support Mark Fuller for Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party.
I encourage every delegate to carefully consider the challenges before us and to join me in supporting Mark Fuller as the leader who can strengthen our organization and help deliver Republican victories across Idaho.
Sincerely,
Bryan D. Smith, Idaho’s National Committeeman
