Thread by @Electshelby

Thank you everyone for a great night at #FBCG22! Here's the speech I gave: I think many of you were surprised to see that I was not on the Secretary of State’s unofficial list of candidates who filed for Governor. 🧵 #idpol #idaho #Democrats

I can assure you that you are not as surprised as I am! Although I’ve served as a non-partisan Mayor for two terms, let me be clear, I am a Democrat. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure I’m on the ballot. And I am confident we will be successful.

Now let me tell you why I’m running for Governor. It seems that everywhere we look in the world we see a battle going on. A battle between freedom and totalitarianism. A clash between the rule of law and corrupt power. A struggle between democracy and dictatorship.

Putin's invasion of #Ukraine is the latest chapter in this global struggle and I want to take a moment and recognize the bravery and heroism of the people of Ukraine in standing up to Putin’s aggression. This epic battle is not just playing out on the international stage.

It’s happening right here at home as well. Our state is changing. There is a growing extremist movement in Idaho. #DemocracyNotAutocracy

They call it the American ReDoubt. It’s a political migration theology that is urging people from all over the nation to move to sparsely populated states like Idaho so that they take it over and change the politics to fit their radical belief system.

These people have moved in by the tens of thousands. There’s even entire real estate agencies dedicated to marketing to Californians telling them to come to Idaho where they can live out their extreme ideologies.

And let me tell you, being from North Idaho, which is considered ground zero for the ReDoubt, it’s pretty unrecognizable from how it was 10 years ago.

These folks have moved in and they've taken over county commissions, school boards, library boards, and Republican county central committees.

They have run off regular community minded people and they've radicalized and broken everything they have touched. They threaten, harass and intimidate community leaders and public servants.

They openly talk about civil war and violence and openly stoke fear, anger and divisiveness in our communities. This extremism used to be just fringe groups, like the Aryan nations.

But now, because of the ReDoubt movement, because of tens of thousands of people moving into our state, it is now a viable political base.

It was no accident two weeks ago that Janice McGeachin thought it was politically smart to speak at a conference with far right, white-nationalist, anti-semitic elements.

And while it's still a minority right now, it's a loud minority that uses fear and intimidation to change our state’s politics and our communities. Let me give you an example.

Governor Little this session sponsored a bill legalizing private, unregulated militias. Legalizing private militias, also called gangs. Think about that.

Private militias have been outlawed for 100 years ever since the KKK was wreaking havoc across the nation.

We all know Brad Little didn’t do that because he thought it was a good idea. And he sure as hell didn’t do it to cut red tape. He did it because he is scared. He is scared of the political power of these extremists and is trying desperately to appease them.

It’s the same reason he has still refused to condemn Janice McGheachin for addressing that conference. He’s afraid. Idaho is especially vulnerable to this kind of radical extremist threat.

We are a one-party state where there are no moderating voices, no middle ground, and no checks and balances. There is no way to protect the public from the worst impulses of one party rule.

Governor Little, who was once thought of as a moderate, now only placates the radical elements taking over his party. Last year these extremists tried to take away one of the most fundamental rights we have in Idaho. Guaranteed by our State Constitution.

The power of citizen referendum. So if you don’t like something the state government is doing, you can go to your fellow citizens, get it on the ballot and change the law. Extremists tried to take that away right away forever and Brad Little signed their bill.

It was such an undemocratic and unconstitutional attack on our basic rights that the Idaho Supreme Court, who is not the most liberal group of people, called the bill “tyranny” when they unanimously struck it down.

Tyranny. Let that sink in. These extremist groups preach freedom, but they deliver tyranny. Tyranny for anyone that doesn’t believe exactly as they do. But I don’t think these extremists speak for a majority of Idahoans.

I believe there is a silent majority of Idahoans that don’t want our state to become like Afghanistan under the Taliban. I believe the majority of Idahoans care more about good paying jobs and good schools for their kids.

I will be Governor for Idaho’s silent majority. The regular people that are tired of all the yelling and craziness and just want the government managed efficiently and fairly. And I believe we will win.

We will win because these extremists have started a civil war within the Republican Party. And this civil war will split the republican vote and it gives us the best chance we’ve had to win the Governorship in 30 years.

So if you only remember one thing from me tonight, remember this: My name is Shelby Rognstad. I'm a fourth generation Idahoan. I love my state. And I'm not going to let the extremists take it without a fight. That's why I'm running for governor.

And I need everyone in this room that loves this state with all their heart and is willing to fight for it to stand up right now.

Stand up because if we all stand together, just like the people of Ukraine, we can preserve our democracy, our freedom and our way of life here in Idaho. Thank you.
God bless Idaho and God bless America.