Conservative Idaho Will Probably Pass A Law to Restore Abortion Rights

Deep “Red” Idaho Looks Like It Will Pass A Law to Restore Abortion Rights With Support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents July 21, 2026

Idaho, the Gem State. Idaho has been far from a gem for Democrats. Idaho is one of the most GOP states in presidential politics. No Democratic presidential nominee has come close to carrying this state since LBJ’s 1964 landslide election over Barry Goldwater. And even then, LBJ barely carried this state, 51%-49%. Donald clobbered Hillary in 2016 by a “y uu ge” 31% margin, 59%-28%. In 2020, Joe Biden lost to Trump here by the identical 31% margin, 64%-33%. In 2024, Kamala Harris lost Idaho by 37 points, 67%-30%. Idaho’s two U.S. congressional districts are both represented by Republicans. Idaho also has a GOP trifecta, a Republican Governor, and overwhelming state GOP House and Senate majorities. Idaho borders Utah and has the second highest percentage of most members of the Mormon Church who are usually very politically conservative. It also has a lot of members of the hard-right Church of Christ. https://almanacofamericanpolitics.com, 2026, National Journal, 2024, pp. 557-558

That is why it is so surprising to see articles indicating that voters from this “ultra-Red” state look like they will be passing by an overwhelming margin on Election Day November 2026 a law that will help restore access to abortion. In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.” “Dobbs” overturned the Supreme Court’s 1973 “Roe v. Wade” opinion that gave women in all the U.S. the right to an abortion. Under “Dobbs,” this issue was sent back to the states to decide whether to support pro-choice abortion laws or repeal them. (Grimmett, Colin, “100 Supreme Court Cases Every American Should Know,” 2026). In August 2022, after “Dobbs” was issued, Idaho’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions took effect. As a result, 114 out of 268 physicians practicing obstetrics left Idaho after the ban took effect. Only 20% of physicians replaced those who had left, a net loss of 94 doctors within two years. This extremely strict anti-abortion law could cause doctors to lose their licenses, face felony charges, and up to five years in prison. https://stateline.org/2026/07/10/10/in-deep-red-idaho-support-for-ballot-question-on-abortion-access-is-spread-across-party-lines/, https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2026-07-13/abortion-rights-ballot-secretary-of-state-idaho-folwell-election

For the fourth legislative session in a row, Idaho’s legislators have failed to confront the real-world consequences of their extreme abortion ban. Not only have many doctors practicing in the OB/GYN field left the state, but also, women facing medical emergencies because of pregnancies have had their health and their lives endangered because of this draconian ban, according to Melanie Folwell. Ms. Folwell is a lifelong Idahoan, mother, and community advocate. She is presently serving as executive director of Idahoans United for Women and Families. That group is a non-partisan grassroots coalition that is leading the charge to restore reproductive rights to every Idahoan. https://idahocapitalsun.com/author/melaniefolwell/#:

On July 13, 2026, Ms. Folwell’s Idahoans United for Women & Families announced that their group had gathered enough qualifying signatures from across that state in support of the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act ballot initiative. This Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act would make Idaho’s law similar to what it was before the Supreme Court overturned “Roe v. Wade” in 2022. If this new Idaho law is passed, because of Ms. Folwell and her grassroots activists, abortions would be allowed until fetal viability, which is generally considered to be about 21 weeks into a pregnancy. This proposed new change in the Idaho law would also allow people to make their own choices for abortion, contraception, and fertility treatment.https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2026-07-13/abortion-rights-ballot-secretary-of-state-idaho-folwell-election, https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/21/800070064/community/gnr-for-tuesday-july-21-2026/

To make it on the ballot in Idaho, an initiative must be signed by 6% of eligible voters, or about 70,000 people and the signatures must come from 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts. In a press release, the Idahoans United for Women and Families said they had gathered roughly 110,000 signatures over the last 10 months, what they called, “the largest signature tally ever gathered for a qualified initiative in state history.” https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2026/07-13/abortion-rights-ballot-secretary-of-state-idaho-folwell-election

Ms. Folwell stated that she relied on the help of more than 1,200 unpaid volunteers.https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/politics-government/2026/07-13/abortion-rights-ballot-secretary-of-state-idaho-folwell-election

One of the volunteers trying to get this initiative on the ballot was Suzanne Gallus. Gallus, a Catholic and mother of seven children, had been pregnant 12 times. She spent the past year knocking on doors asking people to sign the petition in north Idaho. She learned that even some who held deeply personal beliefs against abortion were willing to sign and vote “yes.” And get this. According to campaign data, more than 33% of the signers were unaffiliated voters, 37% Democrats, 1% Libertarians, and 28% Republicans. Idahoans see this petition as restoring abortion access “without government interference” which, IMHO, plays well in a state where many are GOPers and libertarian-leaning. (https://stateline.org/2026/07/10/in-deep-red-idaho-support-for-ballot-question-on-abortion-access-is-spread-across-party-lines/) Even more people did not sign this petition because of fear, but said they would vote for it in November. In June, a conservative local blogger had published a list of names from more than 4,000 petition signers from Kootenai County, roughly half of whom were Republicans, which had been obtained from a public records request. The blog post accused those Republicans who had signed of being “RINOS,” or Republicans in Name Only. (https://stateline.org/2026/07/10/in-deep-red-idaho-support-for-ballot-question-on-abortion-access-is-spread-across-party-lines/) Fortunately, the vote on the initiative will be by secret ballot.

Despite such MAGA fear/intimidation tactics being employed, a statewide poll conducted by Boise State University’s School of Public Service showed 61% of Idaho residents strongly or somewhat supported the proposed Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act, while only about 28% were somewhat or strongly opposed. About 12% were unsure. Forty-five (45) percent of GOPers supported the pro-”Roe” initiative and so did 66% of independents. This Idaho polling is similar to national polls recorded since “Dobbs” overturned “Roe.”The signers are about evenly split between Democrats and Republicans but about 65% of the signers are women. Women obviously “get” the stakes involved. (https://stateline.org/2026/07/10/in-deep-red-idaho-support-for-ballot-question-on-abortion-access-is-spread-across-party-lines/) Hopefully Ms. Fowell and her volunteers will help Idaho strike a blow for reproductive freedom by getting her supporters out to the polls in droves this November.