Bob Neugebauer welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to break down the newly released 2026 Idaho Freedom Index — the annual scorecard rating every legislator and the governor based on how they actually voted, not what they promised. With the legislature adjourned, the full session’s votes have been compiled against 430 rated bills and 14 freedom metrics, producing scores that reveal who held the line on conservative principles and who didn’t.
The numbers tell a sobering story for Idaho conservatives. Only 12 legislators earned scores of 90% or above, down from 16 the previous year, with Christy Zitto and Glenita Zeiderweld tied at the top. The average House Freedom Index score dropped from 68% to around 64%, and the Senate fell below 60%. Meanwhile, 42 legislators — nearly 40% of the 105-member body — earned membership in what Nate calls the “Big Spender Caucus,” voting for increased spending more than 84% of the time. The state budget grew 2.5% during what was supposed to be a crisis year, with the Medicaid appropriation alone reaching a record $5.5 billion.
Nate identifies a pattern: Freedom Index scores tend to rise when new legislators enter office and drop during primary election years, when incumbents cater to special interests and the more than 300 lobbyists working the Capitol. Long-tenured legislators tend to see their scores decline over time, with notable exceptions like Heather Scott, who has maintained scores in the 90s for over 12 years. The conversation turns to 2026 primary races, where 10 of the 12 top-rated conservative legislators face challengers — a dynamic Nate attributes to special interest groups targeting those who vote against their agenda.
Neugebauer and Nate close with a call for voters to study the Freedom Index at IdahoFreedom.org, support conservative incumbents under attack, and challenge low-scoring legislators in their districts before the upcoming primary election.
0:01 Introduction and the 2026 Idaho Freedom Index
Bob Neugebauer introduces the show and welcomes Ron Nate, president of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, to discuss how Idaho legislators voted during the session that just adjourned. Nate explains that the Freedom Index rates legislators based on their actual votes across 430 bills measured against 14 freedom metrics, and that the accountability creates a three-part effect: better legislators over time, better voting behavior, and better legislation moving through the process.
2:59 The Top 12 All-Stars and Declining Scores
Neugebauer asks about the percentage of legislators voting conservatively, and Nate reveals that only 12 legislators scored 90% or above — down from 16 the previous year. He names the top 12, led by Christy Zitto and Glenita Zeiderweld tied for first place, followed by Lucas Kaler, David Levitt, Clint Hostetler, Josh Cole, Faye Thompson, Dale Hawkins, Cornell Razor, Kent Marmon, Heather Scott, and Tony Vysnyvsky. The average House Freedom Index score dropped from 68% to around 64%, while the Senate fell below 60%.
5:07 Why Scores Drop Over Time: Election-Year Politics and Lobbyist Pressure
Nate explains the pattern behind declining scores: new legislators raise the index, but primary election years bring drops as incumbents cater to special interests. The historical peak was 69% in 2021, still only a D+ grade. Neugebauer observes that longer-serving legislators tend to vote less conservatively, and Nate confirms this trend while identifying outliers — Christy Zitto has maintained 98.6% across four terms, and Heather Scott has stayed in the 90s for over 12 years. He contrasts these with legislators like Dan Foreman, Judy Boyle, and Mike Moyle, whose scores have dropped from A to D range over time.
10:46 Geographic Voting Patterns and the Influence of Population Growth
Neugebauer raises the connection between geography and voting records, noting that rural northern Idaho districts maintain consistent conservative scores while growing population centers shift toward lower freedom scores. Nate confirms this with his own experience in District 34, a college town where his seat is now held by legislators in the F range. The conversation touches on the role of over 300 special interest lobbyists in the Capitol and how nearly all of them represent clients seeking specific legislative outcomes rather than general freedom principles.
15:50 The Spending Index and the 42-Member Big Spender Caucus
Nate introduces the spending index, which tracks votes on budget bills, and names all 42 members of the “Big Spender Caucus” — legislators who voted for increased spending more than 84% of the time. The list includes 24 House members and 18 senators, led by Senate number-one big spender Dave Lint. In the Senate, 25 of 35 members earned F grades on spending, including all 6 Democrats and 19 Republicans. The state budget grew 2.5% in what was framed as a crisis year — a pattern where the political dynamics of constituent dependence on government spending make cuts politically untenable regardless of fiscal conditions.
21:50 Best and Worst Bills of the 2026 Session
Nate details the legislative scorecard for key bills. Of the 15 best-rated bills, only 7 passed while 8 failed — including a Medicaid expansion repeal that never received a hearing. Wins included prohibiting teachers’ unions from receiving taxpayer dollars and requiring civics education covering the Constitution and Federalist Papers. Among the worst bills, 11 of 17 were killed, though a property tax increase and the $5.5 billion Medicaid appropriation — the largest in state history — both passed. Neugebauer notes that Medicaid recipients represent a voting bloc that makes repeal politically difficult.
27:07 The Work of Killing Bad Bills: IFF’s Legislative Strategy
Neugebauer asks about the effort required to defeat legislation, and Nate describes the challenge of opposing bills when lobbyists receive bonuses of up to $20,000 for passing specific legislation. The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s approach relies on grassroots mobilization, public testimony, and educating legislators about bill impacts rather than financial incentives. Nate distinguishes IFF’s general-interest mission from special-interest lobbying, noting that they receive no marginal benefit from any individual bill outcome and resist pressure from those who seek to change their ratings.
29:04 Support for IFF and the Colorado Cautionary Tale
Neugebauer asks how Idahoans are supporting the Freedom Foundation, and Nate reports their best two years in terms of legislative success, messaging, and donor support. Both express concern about Idaho following the trajectory that turned Colorado from red to blue, with Neugebauer noting he witnessed that shift firsthand. Nate emphasizes that while progress is strong, the opposition is growing as well — campaign costs for a House race have risen from $11,000 in 2014 to $40,000-$50,000 today due to special interest spending.
31:11 Key 2026 Primary Races and Voter Engagement
Nate turns to the upcoming primary elections, highlighting that 10 of the 12 top-rated conservative legislators face challengers — a dynamic that reveals how special interest groups target the highest-scoring freedom voters. He spotlights the Jim Guthrie race in District 28, where Guthrie’s 26.8% overall score contrasts with challenger David Worley’s expected A-range performance. On the other side, Nate identifies low-scoring incumbents with challengers as opportunities for voters to restore conservative representation. Both close by urging listeners to study the Freedom Index, support threatened conservative incumbents, and amplify their influence beyond a single vote by sharing candidate information with their networks.