YES: Paulette Jordan just won the Democratic primary for governor of Idaho. She’s now positioned to become their state’s first female AND first Native American governor EVER. I support this 
Form Gemini AI: It sounds like you might be looking at some news from a few years ago! While Paulette Jordan did make history with her campaign, she is not currently the governor-elect.
Here is the breakdown of the situation as of late 2025:
1. The 2018 Milestone
You are correct that Paulette Jordan achieved something historic in 2018. She won the Democratic primary for Governor of Idaho, making her the first woman and first Native American (she is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe) to be a major party nominee for governor in the state’s history.
2. The General Election Result
In the general election in November 2018, she ran against Republican Brad Little. While her campaign gained significant national attention, she lost to Little, who received approximately 60% of the vote compared to her 38%.
3. Current Leadership in Idaho
* Current Governor: Brad Little (Republican) is the sitting Governor of Idaho. He was first elected in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.
* Next Election: The next gubernatorial election in Idaho is scheduled for November 2026, with the primaries taking place in May 2026.
4. Paulette Jordan’s Status
Since her 2018 run, Jordan also ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020 but was unsuccessful in the general election against incumbent Jim Risch. While she remains a prominent political figure in Idaho and a representative for the National Indian Gaming Association, she has not won a gubernatorial seat.
It’s easy to see why that news felt current—her run was a major “first” that people still talk about as a landmark moment in Idaho politics.
Would you like me to look up who has officially filed to run in the upcoming 2026 Idaho primary?
