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Terri Pickens

Democratic candidate for Governor, Idaho · Challenger

Trial attorney; founder of Pickens Law, P.A.

Terri Pickens is a trial attorney from Pocatello who founded Pickens Law, P.A. in Boise in 2008. She was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022, running as Terri Pickens Manweiler. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for governor with about 61% of the vote and is the Democratic nominee on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

Where Pickens stands

K-12 education funding: Says her first act as governor would be to present a state budget that restores the tax revenue and many of the budget cuts made by Gov. Little and the Legislature during the 2026 session.
Private school choice: Pledges to end the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which she calls the "$50 million private school voucher program."
Nuclear waste and the aquifer: Says she would withdraw the state's memorandum of understanding on the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus and take Idaho out of consideration for the innovation campuses.
Taxes: Proposes stopping what she calls tax cuts for billionaires, clawing back much of last year's $400 million tax cut, and repealing the sales tax on food.
Abortion: Supports Proposition 1, the ballot initiative to restore abortion rights in Idaho, and says she would implement it if it passes.
Constitutional amendments: Opposes the Legislature's proposed constitutional amendments HJR 4 and HJR 6.
Transgender issues (restroom law): On the 2026 restroom law, said there should be no prosecutions of anyone needing to use a facility.
Budget and governing approach: Campaigns on restoring a balanced budget, working more collaboratively with lawmakers, and moving away from what she calls "culture war legislation."

Background

Democratic nominee for Governor of Idaho, 2026 (won May 19, 2026 primary with 61.4%)
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, 2022 (as Terri Pickens Manweiler; 30.5%)
Founder, Pickens Law, P.A., Boise (2008–present)
Trial attorney in Boise since 1999
Former public defender, Nez Perce County (Lewiston)
Former board member, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky
J.D., University of Idaho College of Law, 1998
B.A. in political science, University of Southern California, 1994

In the news

Pickens, Stegner pledge policy changes in Idaho gubernatorial candidate forum Idaho Capital Sun, October 6, 2026
Pickens sees path to Idaho governorship Moscow-Pullman Daily News, October 2, 2026

Also running for Governor

Brad Little Republican
Pro-Life Constitution
Paul Sand Libertarian
John R. Stegner Independent

Sources

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.