Ammon Bundy takes first step toward running for Idaho governor

He’s banned from the Idaho Capitol building, but that didn’t stop Ammon Bundy from taking the first step toward running for Idaho governor.

Bundy, who lives in Emmett, filed paperwork Friday to appoint a treasurer to a campaign for governor. The anti-government activist appeared to have appointed himself as treasurer, but according to a Secretary of State Office tweet, a treasurer must be a registered Idaho voter. According to the office, Bundy will either need to become a registered voter and refile the paperwork or name a new treasurer and refile. The tweet also stated the office has notified Bundy of the need to refile or register.

During the past year, police arrested Bundy multiple times in Boise, with most of those arrests occurring at the Idaho Capitol. He was handcuffed and wheeled out of the Capitol on an office chair after refusing to leave in August. He was banned from the building for a year, but returned, which led to arrests for trespassing. Bundy returned again last month and was arrested twice in one day.

Bundy has yet to announce a formal campaign for the office currently held by another Emmett resident, Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

Several people have also filed the pre-candidacy paperwork, which allows them to begin fundraising. Five other candidates have appointed campaign treasurers for governor, including Little, Lisa Marie of Eagle, Cody Usabel of Meridian, Jeff Cotton of Boise, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin of Idaho Falls and Edward Humphreys of Eagle. A seventh candidate has appointed a treasurer, John Dionne of Boise, but he is unaffiliated.

McGeachin announced this week she is running for Idaho governor, and Humphreys has also formally announced a run for the position. Little has yet to formally announce whether he will seek re-election.

Candidates for the Republican primary election in May 2022 cannot officially declare their candidacy until February.