Two former Republican attorneys general of Idaho have endorsed Democratic challenger Lori Hickman in her bid to unseat incumbent Attorney General Raúl Labrador. The endorsements, announced Thursday outside the old Ada County Courthouse in Boise, mark a significant break within the state’s conservative legal establishment.
Lawrence Wasden and Jim Jones, both former Republican attorneys general, joined dozens of former office lawyers in backing Hickman. Wasden served as Idaho’s top law enforcement officer for 20 years before losing the Republican primary to Labrador in 2023. Jones previously served on the Idaho Supreme Court.
Hickman stated she wishes the race were nonpartisan and aims to restore sound legal advice regardless of political affiliation. She highlighted her two decades of legal experience, including work at Micron and serving as board chair of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
“I’m trying to restore the tradition of sound legal advice, regardless of who the clients are or their political affiliations,” Hickman said.
The Labrador campaign dismissed the endorsers as disgruntled former employees. At least eight of the endorsing attorneys left the office shortly before or after Labrador took office in January 2023. Among them was Madison Miles, a former deputy attorney general who resigned citing unethical representation of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Daphne Huang, a former deputy AG fired by Labrador’s office, also endorsed Hickman. Huang’s whistleblower lawsuit against the Attorney General’s Office was dismissed by a district court judge and is currently on appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court.
Wasden stated his endorsement is based on the importance of recognizing the rule of law. “The rule of law really is the issue that separates us from any other country in the world,” Wasden said.
The race highlights a rare Democratic challenge in a state where voters last elected a Democrat to statewide office in 2002 for superintendent of public instruction. Larry Echohawk was Idaho’s last Democratic attorney general, serving in 1995.
Labrador’s tenure has been marked by controversial legal opinions, including a 2023 ruling stating medical professionals prescribing abortion pills across state lines face criminal penalties. He later reached an agreement with Planned Parenthood not to prosecute some doctors for out-of-state abortion referrals.