Raúl Labrador
33rd Attorney General of Idaho
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
GovernorBrad Little
Preceded byLawrence Wasden
Chair of the Idaho Republican Party
In office
June 29, 2019 – June 27, 2020
Preceded byJonathan Parker
Succeeded byTom Luna
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byWalt Minnick
Succeeded byRuss Fulcher
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
December 1, 2006 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byStan Bastian
Succeeded byReed DeMordaunt
Personal details
Born
Raúl Rafael Labrador

(1967-12-08) December 8, 1967
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Rebecca Johnson
​
(m. 1991)​
Children5
EducationBrigham Young University (BA)
University of Washington (JD)

Raúl Rafael Labrador (born December 8, 1967)[1] is an American lawyer and politician from Idaho, currently the state's attorney general. A member of the Republican Party, he was the U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2019 and chaired the Idaho Republican Party from 2019 to 2020.[2] Prior to this, Labrador represented the 14B district in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010.

Labrador first entered Congress in the 2010, winning the Republican primary with the support of Tea Party activists, and defeating Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick in the general election.[3] In 2014, Labrador mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Kevin McCarthy for the position of House Majority leader, where he positioned himself as a conservative alternative.[4][5] In 2015, Labrador became one of the nine inaugural members of the House Freedom Caucus, a right-wing congressional caucus.[6]

Labrador sought his party's nomination for governor in the 2018 election, opting not to seek another term in Congress to focus on his campaign; he finished second in the Republican primary to Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, who went on to win the election.[7] Labrador sought the nomination for the state attorney general in the 2022 election, defeating longtime incumbent Lawrence Wasden for the Republican nomination and Democratic nominee Tom Arkoosh in the general election.

Early life and education

Born on December 8, 1967, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Labrador relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, as a child and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1985. He was raised by a single mother who struggled financially.[8]

He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and spent two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santiago Chile from 1987 to 1989. Labrador returned to BYU and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish in 1992 with an emphasis in Latin American literature. He was admitted to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and received his Juris Doctor in 1995.[9]

Early career

Married in 1991, Labrador relocated to his wife's home state of Idaho and practiced law and immigration law in private practice from 1995 until his election to the state legislature in 2006.[1][10]

Idaho House of Representatives

2006

Labrador ran for and won the Republican nomination for Idaho House Seat B against two other challengers. He won the general election with 65.55% against Daniel S. Weston.[11][12]

2008

He was unopposed in the May 2008 Republican primary.[13] Labrador defeated Glida Bothwell in the general election, winning 69.1% of the vote.[14]

Committee assignments

Labrador served on the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee in 2007, Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee from 2007 to 2010, the State Affairs Committee from 2007 to 2010, and the Transportation and Defense Committee from 2009 to 2010.[15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Labrador in Las Vegas, 2011

2010

In 2010, Labrador defeated Vaughn Ward in the Republican primary 48%–39% on May 10, in what was widely considered a major upset.[16][3] Labrador credited his victory in the Republican primary to support from activists affiliated with the Tea Party movement.[17] In the general election, Labrador defeated first-term Democratic incumbent Walt Minnick 51%–41%.

2012

Labrador supported Mitt Romney for president.[18][19][20]

2014

On August 14, 2013, Labrador decided not to challenge incumbent Idaho Governor Butch Otter in the Republican primary, instead running for reelection to Congress for a third term.[21][22]

On August 19, 2013, Democratic State Representative Shirley Ringo decided to challenge Labrador instead of running for an eighth term in the Idaho state legislature.[23]

Labrador announced on June 13 that he would challenge Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy for the leadership position. Labrador sought to challenge McCarthy from the right.[4] In a vote held June 19, 2014, the House selected McCarthy.[24] In January 2015, he was one of nine Republicans who launched the House Freedom Caucus.[6]

Labrador won both the Republican primary (78.6%)[25] and the general election (65%).[26]

2016

A supporter of Donald Trump in the 2016 election,[27] Labrador won the Republican primary (81%) in May,[28] and the general election (68.2%) in November.[29] Labrador has initially supported Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign.[30]

Tenure

Town halls

Labrador was one of the few Republicans to host a town hall after the election of Donald Trump and the only member of the state's congressional delegation to host one.[31]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Domestic issues

Health care

On April 20, 2017, Labrador said he does not believe healthcare is a human right.[34][35][36] Labrador supports the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act because he believes it will raise costs and eliminate jobs.[37]

Labrador supports requiring those illegally residing in the United States to be responsible for their own healthcare costs.[38]

He voted for the American Health Care Act of 2017, which passed the House May 4, 2017.[39] One of the few Republican lawmakers who hosted a town hall after this vote, Labrador received national attention for stating during the meeting at Lewis-Clark State College that "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare." The statement caused a huge outcry from the audience present and on social media for several days.[40][41]

Economic issues

Elections

Labrador has stated that he supports the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which provides for the direct election of members of the U.S. Senate by the voters in each state. Before the amendment was ratified in 1913, Senators were selected by the legislatures of their respective states. With regard to this position, Labrador has stated "I have a consistent philosophy about government and the importance of states' rights."[42]

Tax reform

Labrador is in favor of tax reform, specifically reform that rids of loopholes, lowers "overall rates," and reduces government spending so the national debt does not increase.[43]

Labrador voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[44] He says the bill will "allow hard-working Idahoans to keep more of their money," including helping them "meet their expenses and make crucial investments."[43]

International issues

Energy & oil

Labrador is seen by many in eastern Idaho, which is not in his congressional district, as an opponent of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).[45]

Immigration

On the July 6, 2014, episode of Meet the Press, Labrador stated that the Obama administration needed to "immediately deport" young illegal immigrants. The comment came as part of a discussion about the estimated 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America who had tried to cross the border since October 2013.[46]

Labrador was a member of the "Gang of Eight," a bipartisan group of House members working on immigration reform legislation,[47] but on June 5, 2013, he left the negotiations because he wanted language in the bill requiring that illegal immigrants be responsible for their own health care costs.[38] Labrador said he would use his position on the House Judiciary Committee to pass immigration reform legislation.

Social issues

Abortion

Labrador opposes late termination of pregnancy and believes "life begins at conception" and that "The unborn child is still a child – made in the image of God, who will one day have the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us. The fact that life begins at conception might be an uncomfortable truth for some. But it's a truth, all the same."[48]

Labrador voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in 2017.[48]

Family Rights

Idaho is one of the states that has faith-healing exemption. In a debate, Labrador said he would not change it.[49]

Cannabis

Labrador has a "B" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. Labrador is in favor of veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence. He also supports industrial hemp farming.[50]

LGBT issues

In June 2015, Labrador introduced HR 2802, titled the "First Amendment Defense Act" (FADA) which was said to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs from action by the federal government. Critics, such as Ian Thompson of the American Civil Liberties Union claimed that the bill would "open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples."[51]

Elections

District 14 House Seat B - Part of Ada County
Year Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct Candidate Votes Pct
2006 primary[52] Raúl Labrador 2,448 46.4% John Tomkinson 1,535 29.1% Jim Borton 1,292 24.5%
2006 general[53] Raúl Labrador 13,208 65.5% Daniel Weston 6,943 34.5%
2008 primary[54] Raúl Labrador (incumbent) 4,945 100%
2008 general[55] Raúl Labrador (incumbent) 22,093 69.1% Glida Bothwell 9,869 30.9%

2018 gubernatorial campaign

Labrador's gubernatorial campaign logo

On May 9, 2017, Labrador filed to run in the 2018 Idaho gubernatorial race,[56] and embarked on a kick-off tour several weeks later with stops in Boise,[57] Post Falls,[58] and Idaho Falls.[59][60] He was not able to run for his current congressional seat and governor at the same time; leaving CD-1 an open seat in 2018.

In November 2017, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas endorsed Labrador.[61]

Labrador placed second in the Republican gubernatorial primary to Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, winning 32.6% of the vote.[62]

Chair of the Idaho Republican Party (2019–2020)

In June 2019, Labrador announced that he would run for chairman of the Idaho Republican Party at its next State Central Committee meeting, having already received the backing and support of most IDGOP officers.[63]

On June 29, 2019, Labrador won Idaho Republican Party Chair by two votes, defeating former Superintendent of Education Tom Luna.[64] A year later in June 2020, Labrador resigned from his position as party chair and joined a local law firm; he was succeeded by Luna.[65]

Idaho Attorney General

Results by county

2022 election

Labrador filed as a candidate in the 2022 Idaho attorney general election on November 17, 2021.[66] He challenged 20-year incumbent Lawrence Wasden for the Republican nomination; in the primary on May 17, Labrador won with 51.6% of the vote.[67]

In the general election on November 8, he received 62.6% of the vote to easily defeat Democrat Tom Arkoosh.[68]

Tenure

Labrador was sworn in as Idaho's attorney general on January 2, 2023. Four days later, he filed a motion to dismiss charges against Sara Walton Brady, a Meridian woman who was arrested in 2020 for trespassing during the COVID-19 lockdown.[69]

Personal life

Labrador lives in Eagle with his wife Rebecca and their five children; he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

  1. 1 2 "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov.
  2. ↑ "Labrador to run for Idaho governor". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
  3. 1 2 Kraushaar, Josh (2010-05-26). "Rep. Raul Labrador wins Idaho primary upset". Politico. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  4. 1 2 Newton-Small, Jay (2014-06-16). "Raul Labrador Aims to Upset Race for House Majority Leader". TIME. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ↑ LoGiurato, Brett. "TEA PARTY FAVORITE: Here's Why I Should Be The Next Majority Leader". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. 1 2 3 French, Lauren (2015-01-26). "9 Republicans launch House Freedom Caucus". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  7. ↑ Watkins, Eli. "Freedom caucus member launches bid for governor". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  8. ↑ "Raúl Labrador for Governor". Archived from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  9. ↑ "Raul Labrador". Wall Street Journal. Election 2012. November 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  10. ↑ PARKER, ASHLEY and JULIA PRESTON (June 6, 2013). "In House, Immigration Spurs Push by G.O.P". NYT. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ "2006 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  12. ↑ "2006 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  13. ↑ "2008 Primary Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  14. ↑ "2008 General Results legislative". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  15. ↑ "Raul Labrador". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  16. ↑ U.S. House Dist. 1 GOP KTVB.com Accessed June 1, 2010
  17. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (2010-05-26). "Labrador: tea party 'helped tremendously'". POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  18. ↑ "Idaho's Labrador, late to endorse in 2012 presidential race, jumps in early to support Rand Paul". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  19. ↑ "Mitt Romney: Press Release: Rep. Raul Labrador: We Need Mitt Romney In Washington". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  20. ↑ Helfrich, Jesse (2012-04-18). "GOP leaders endorse Mitt Romney, seek party unity behind probable nominee". TheHill. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  21. ↑ Labrador decides not to challenge Otter for governorship of Idaho, politico.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Rep. Raul Labrador To Seek Re-Election, Ends Speculation About Run For Governor". Fox News. August 14, 2013.
  23. ↑ Shirley Ringo challenges Labrador for congressional seat, m.lmtribune.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  24. ↑ Cornwell, Jane (June 13, 2014). "Republican Rep. Labrador running for House majority leader post". Reuters. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  26. ↑ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  27. ↑ "Another congressman – Labrador – backs Trump's policies, not his rhetoric | McClatchy Washington Bureau". www.mcclatchydc.com. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  28. ↑ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  29. ↑ "Statewide Totals". www.sos.idaho.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  30. ↑ "The Hill's 2016 presidential endorsement list". The Hill. 2015-04-21. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  31. ↑ Guilhem, Matt. "Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador Holding Two Town Halls". Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  32. ↑ "Conservatives Form Their Own Caucus Because the RSC Isn't 'Hard-Core' Enough". National Journal. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  33. ↑ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  34. ↑ Kruesi, Kimberlee (April 20, 2017). "Idaho GOP Congressman Faces Angry Crowd at Town Hall". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2017. I do not believe health care is a basic human right," Labrador said to jeers while answering a question about health care reform and increasing costs. "I just don't think it's a right to have health care.
  35. ↑ Savransky, Rebecca (April 20, 2017). "GOP rep booed at town hall for saying healthcare isn't a 'basic human right'". The Hill. Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) faced boos from a town hall audience while defending his views that healthcare is not a "basic human right." "I just don't think it's a right to have healthcare," Labrador said Wednesday in response to a question about healthcare reform and increasing costs, according to The Associated Press.
  36. ↑ Barnhill, Frankie (April 20, 2017). "Labrador Pushed On Health Care, Russia And Trump's Taxes During Town Hall". KBSX. Boise State Public Radio. Retrieved May 10, 2017. So no I do not believe that health care is a basic right," says Labrador. "When something is a right it's something that must be provided by the government.
  37. ↑ "Raul Labrador: GOP health care bill 'has no natural constituency'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
  38. 1 2 "Conservative Labrador quits House immigration group". The Hill. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 256".
  40. ↑ Jenkins, A. (May 6, 2017) "GOP Congressman Raul Labrador: 'Nobody Dies Because They Don't Have Access to Health Care'". Time. Accessed at: http://time.com/4769830/raul-labrador-gop-congressman-nobody-dies-health-care/
  41. ↑ "Following town hall backlash, Labrador says health care comment 'wasn't very elegant'". idahostatesman. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
  42. ↑ Spokesman Review Staff. (Oct. 14th, 2010). "Labrador: Repeal 17th Amendment". Spokesman Review. Accessed at: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2010/oct/14/labrador-repeal-17th-amendment/
  43. 1 2 Russell, Betsy Z. "Labrador, Simpson laud GOP tax bill as it passes House". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  44. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (19 December 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  45. ↑ Taggart, S. (June 25, 2017). "Shake-up in the race for governor". Idaho State Journal. Accessed at: http://idahostatejournal.com/opinion/columns/shake-up-in-the-race-for-governor/article_70263a1d-483c-5ce2-bc84-0291b380308e.html
  46. ↑ "Americans don't want mass deportations but are sort of OK with increased deportations", washingtonpost.com; accessed November 15, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Puerto Rico-Born Labrador Top Republican on Immigration". Bloomberg.com. April 5, 2013 – via www.bloomberg.com.
  48. 1 2 Russell, Betsy Z. "Little speaks out on health care, Labrador on abortion; Ahlquist brings tour to North Idaho". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  49. ↑ "Spokesman-Review". Spokesman-Review.
  50. ↑ "Idaho Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  51. ↑ Percelay, Rachel (July 28, 2015). "The "First Amendment Defense Act" Is The Next Attack on LGBT Rights". Media Matters. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  52. ↑ Ysursa, Ben. "May 23, 2006 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  53. ↑ Ysursa, Ben. "November 7, 2006 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  54. ↑ Ysursa, Ben. "May 27, 2008 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  55. ↑ Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  56. ↑ "Rep. Raul Labrador joins Idaho governor's race". AP News. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  57. ↑ KIMBERLEE KRUESI. "Labrador officially kicks off Idaho gubernatorial campaign". Idaho Press-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  58. ↑ "'Unleash the raw potential'". 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  59. ↑ Davis, Taja (2017-06-01). "Raul Labrador's stop in eastern Idaho to campaign for governor". KIFI. Archived from the original on 2017-06-04. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  60. ↑ "Labrador hasn't won VanderSloot's endorsement". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  61. ↑ Russell B.Z. (Nov. 1, 2017). "Labrador announces Ted Cruz is endorsing him for governor of Idaho in '18", Spokane: Spokesman-Review. Labrador endorsed Cruz for the Republican nomination for President after Sen. Rand Paul dropped out of the race; he had originally supported Paul. Accessed at: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2017/nov/01/labrador-announces-ted-cruz-endorsing-him-governor-idaho-18/
  62. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah (2018-05-15). "Idaho Primary Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  63. ↑ "It's official. Raul Labrador hopes to serve as Idaho GOP chairman, support Trump's re-election". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  64. ↑ Dawson, James (29 June 2019). "Raul Labrador Is Idaho's Next Republican Party Chairman". www.boisestatepublicradio.org. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  65. ↑ Richert, Kevin (2020-06-29). "Luna elected state GOP chairman". Idaho Education News. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  66. ↑ Richert, Kevin (2021-11-17). "Labrador enters attorney general's race". Idaho Education News. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  67. ↑ "Election Night Results".
  68. ↑ "Raul Labrador wins Idaho Attorney General race". KBTV. November 8, 2022.
  69. ↑ "Idaho AG Labrador to dismiss trespassing charge of supporter from 2020 'park mom' arrest". East Idaho News. January 6, 2023.
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