Mary Souza to challenge Dorothy Moon for Idaho GOP Chair

Mary Souza speaks astatine her run motorboat for Idaho GOP Chairwoman connected June 6. | Courtesy Zoom broadcast.

COEUR D’ALENE — Mary Souza, a erstwhile two-term authorities legislator and captious attraction caregiver from Coeur d’Alene, unveiled her bid for Idaho GOP chairwoman astatine an arena successful bluish Idaho Thursday.

She will beryllium moving against existent Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon. The predetermination will beryllium decided by 634 Idaho GOP delegates from each region connected June 15 astatine nan authorities convention, besides held successful Coeur d’Alene.

Souza said that extremism has taken complete nan Idaho Republican Party.

“We didn’t spot it coming. It snuck up connected america — pinch nan utmost views that came into our party, unbeknownst to immoderate of america —and we ne'er thought it would return off,” she said. “But you get capable group that will beryllium brought complete to their, this measurement of thinking, and you will get a cult. That’s benignant of what it’s becoming.”

During nan news conference, Souza many times referred to legislators and nan governmental ambiance successful Bonneville County.

She mentioned nan Republican level enforcement hearings successful which Sens. Kevin Cook, Dave Lent, Reps. Stephanie Mickelsen, Wendy Horman and Barbara Ehardt were accused of not voting successful statement pinch nan statement platform.

“Those group connected nan Central Committee did not elite these legislators. They were elected by nan group successful their precincts successful their districts, and that’s what we request to respect,” Souza said.

She besides cited voter’s preferences successful nan caller May 21 superior successful which nan creation of nan Bonneville County GOP Central Committee “flipped.”

She said she “opposes tribunals.” She would besides support holding elections alternatively than caucuses to prime governmental candidates and nominees.

Souza said collaboration is nan champion measurement to attack governance.

As an example, Souza highlighted her activity pinch Rep. Barbara Ehardt, a erstwhile NCAA Division 1 women’s hoops coach, co-sponsoring nan Fairness successful Women’s Sports Act.

“We listened to each other, and that was nan issue,” Souza said. “I learned from her. She learned from me. We respected each other. … We didn’t ballot nan aforesaid measurement each nan time.”

The enactment requires student athletes to compete connected teams that correspond pinch their biologic sex.

“Idaho was nan first authorities to put this protection into law, while dozens of states followed suit thereafter,” she said.

Souza has antecedently served arsenic Vice-Chairwoman of nan Health and Welfare and Commerce committees.

She described herself arsenic a leader that respects everyone pinch their divers views and opinions.

“What we request is activity that respects each of us,” she said. “We talked astir nan large tent. We talked astir why we request to let different group to person their views, and they don’t person to beryllium precisely nan aforesaid arsenic ours. We talked astir that, but that’s not what we person correct now.”

According to a news release, she has “advocated for parental prime options successful acquisition while balancing nan request for nationalist schools.“

“I americium moving to reconstruct unity wrong our statement and to reaffirm our dedication to nan blimpish values that person agelong defined nan Republican spirit,” Souza said successful nan release. “Our statement stands astatine a crossroads, and it is basal that we travel together to support nan robust schedule group distant by President Donald Trump, to unafraid our confederate border, and to protect Idaho from nan scourge of narcotics for illustration marijuana and fentanyl. The early of our authorities and our federation depends connected our expertise to guidelines agreed against nan threats that situation our measurement of life.

“Together, we tin execute awesome things for Idaho. It’s clip to travel together, arsenic 1 unified Republican Party, and unafraid a brighter early for our state.”

Watch Souza’s announcement successful nan video subordinate above.