BOISE, ID — Terri Pickens has filed to run for governor of Idaho, according to a campaign announcement issued Tuesday.

Pickens, a Boise attorney and small business owner, formally entered the race Monday. In the announcement, she sharply criticized current Idaho Gov. Brad Little over his handling of state finances, public safety, and education policy.

Pickens accused the governor of prioritizing tax cuts she said benefit wealthy residents and out-of-state interests, and argued that his budget decisions have contributed to challenges in areas such as mental health care access, wildfire preparedness, and higher education funding. She also criticized a recently approved $50 million program supporting private and religious schools, saying public funds should remain focused on public education.

In addition, Pickens referenced a recent federal law enforcement action in Wilder, alleging it represented government overreach. She said, if elected, she would work to protect individual freedoms and reduce living expenses for working families, with attention to young adults and older homeowners.

Little, a Republican first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, has defended his administration’s fiscal policies, including tax reductions and education funding changes, as strengthening Idaho’s economy and providing relief to residents. His office has not yet publicly responded to Pickens’ filing.

According to the announcement, Pickens is a fourth-generation Idahoan who graduated from high school in Pocatello and later earned a law degree from the University of Idaho. She founded a law firm in Boise and volunteers as a legal advocate for abused children. The campaign states she supports abortion rights and protections for LGBTQ residents.

The Idaho primary election is scheduled for May 2026, with the general election to follow in November.