Brad Little

Brad Little
Phil White/Office of the Governor of Idaho. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Brad Little
Office	33rd Governor of Idaho
Term start	January 7, 2019
Predecessor	Butch Otter
Office1	41st Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Term start1	January 6, 2009
Term end1	January 7, 2019
Predecessor1	Jim Risch
Successor1	Janice McGeachin
Birth name	Bradford James Little
Birth date	1954-02-15
Birth place	Emmett, Idaho, U.S.
Party	Republican Party (United States)
Spouse	Teresa Little
Alma mater	University of Idaho

Brad Little

Bradford James Little is an American politician, rancher, and businessman who has served as the 33rd governor of Idaho since 2019. He previously served two terms as the state's lieutenant governor and has longstanding ties to agricultural organizations and private enterprise in Idaho. His tenure has encompassed fiscal policy, public lands management, and responses to public health and wildfire crises.

Early life and education

Born in Emmett, Idaho, Little was raised in a family involved in ranching and agricultural trade in the Treasure Valley and Boise Basin. He attended public schools in Emmett, Idaho and later enrolled at the University of Idaho, where he studied business and agriculture-related coursework. During his youth he participated in 4-H and Future Farmers of America activities frequent in rural Idaho communities.

Business career and ranching

Little managed family ranching operations focused on cattle and hay production in Gem County, Idaho and operated agricultural enterprises that engaged with regional cooperatives. He worked within organizations connected to the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, and local rodeo circuits, building networks across Boise, Idaho and Canyon County, Idaho. His business activities included ventures in real estate holdings, livestock marketing, and supply-chain arrangements that interfaced with statewide markets and trade partners.

Political career

Little entered elective politics after service in local civic groups and agricultural associations. He was elected to the Idaho State Senate as a member of the Republican Party (United States), representing a district in western Idaho, and served on committees addressing natural resources, finance, and state institutions. In 2008 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Idaho and re-elected in 2014, serving under Governors C. L. "Butch" Otter and participating in intergovernmental relations with federal agencies such as the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Forest Service. In 2018 he secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination in a contest featuring statewide officials and industry leaders, then won the general election to succeed Otter.

Governor of Idaho

As governor, Little has overseen executive actions involving state budgeting, wildfire response, and public health coordination with entities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. His administration has interacted with the Idaho Legislature on appropriations, tax policy, and public lands legislation, and has worked with neighboring governors and the Western Governors' Association on regional wildfire and water resource issues. Little has also engaged with federal representatives, including members of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives from Idaho, on infrastructure funding and federal land management policy.

Political positions and policies

Little's policy record reflects priorities often associated with the Republican Party (United States) in western states, emphasizing natural resource development, agricultural interests, and regulatory reform. On energy and public lands, he has advocated for state involvement in management discussions with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service; on taxation he has supported measures to maintain a low-tax environment for businesses and ranching operations. During public health emergencies he has balanced executive orders and coordination with local health districts and Idaho State Police for emergency response. In education policy debates he has engaged with the Idaho State Board of Education and local school districts on funding formulas and career-technical training linked to agricultural and trades pathways.

Personal life and family

Little resides in Meridian, Idaho with his wife, Teresa Little, who has participated in statewide civic and philanthropic activities and engagements with organizations such as Idaho Public Television events and local charitable boards. The couple has three children and maintains active involvement in community institutions including county fairs, 4-H programs, and ranching associations in Gem County, Idaho and the Boise River watershed. He is a member of regional networks connecting elected officials, business leaders, and agricultural stakeholders across the Intermountain West.

Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Idaho Category:Lieutenant Governors of Idaho Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians from Idaho