Shawn Keenan (D)
Shawn Keenan is running to give Idaho voters a clear choice and ensure elections are administered with fairness, transparency, and respect for every eligible voter. A longtime resident of Coeur d’Alene with a background in communications and media studies, Shawn previously ran for this office in 2022 and remains committed to strengthening democratic participation in Idaho’s elections.
Motivated by a belief that public officials should oppose misinformation and protect voter access, Shawn stepped forward to offer an alternative in a race where many voices went uncontested, and to stand up for inclusive election administration. He believes the Secretary of State’s office should focus on expanding voter access and building public confidence in the democratic process, and he is running to make sure Idaho voters have a voice and a real choice at the ballot box.
Phil McGrane (R)
Phil McGrane, Idaho’s current Secretary of State, has supported a series of voting restrictions that make it harder for many Idahoans – especially students and marginalized voters – to cast a ballot. In 2023, he backed legislation that removed student IDs from the list of acceptable voter identification and imposed stricter ID requirements for registration, prompting lawsuits that claim the laws amount to a modern-day poll tax and violate constitutional protections for young voters.
McGrane also supported efforts to purge voters whose citizenship couldn’t be verified through government databases – despite risks of removing eligible voters due to clerical errors or outdated records. While he frames these efforts as “steps to secure elections,” this pattern of anti-voter policies could suppress turnout and erode trust in the democratic process.