Incumbent Republican governor Butch Otter chose not to run for a fourth term,[1] and the state's primaries were held on May 15.

[3] Jordan lost to incumbent lieutenant governor Brad Little by 21.6 percentage points, for a seventh consecutive Republican victory.

[14] Little was characterized as a politician favored by members of the party establishment, including Otter and U.S. senator Jim Risch.

[16] As a candidate, Labrador suggested that he would be open to overruling Medicaid expansion in the event the state's 2018 ballot measure on the issue passed.

[17] Physician and Boise-area property developer Tommy Ahlquist, a first time candidate, touted his non-political background and pledged to cut regulations to encourage growth.