Idaho’s ballot has a state gun contest and a candidate named what?

By THE ALASKA STORY

Sept. 23, 2026 – An Alaskan taking a peek at Idaho’s November general election ballot might need a moment to take it all in. There is a candidate for governor named Pro-Life. That’s right. Mr. Pro-Life. There is also a question asking voters to choose an official state gun.

The gun question, placed on the ballot by Idaho lawmakers through House Bill 932, offers six choices: the Winchester Model 1894, Winchester Model 1873, Colt Single Action Army “Peacemaker,” M1 Garand, Colt M1911 and Remington Model 700. Voters may pick one. The result is advisory; naming a state gun would still require legislative action. 

Idaho has a more familiar question elsewhere on the ballot: Who should be governor? One answer is Pro-Life, the Constitution Party candidate formerly known as Marvin Richardson. His ballot listing supplies that explanation in parentheses, which is helpful if a voter briefly mistakes the name for a campaign slogan or party name.

The rest of Idaho’s statewide ballot calls for a more serious look: A citizen initiative would establish statutory abortion rights, including abortion access up to fetal viability, like Alaska has: where death begins just before birth for some infants. So let’s get that straight: There’s a candidate whose official name is Pro-Life and a ballot initiative that is pro-death.

Two proposed constitutional amendments address English as the official state language and whether only the Legislature could legalize marijuana and other specified substances. 

For Alaskans who have talked about moving to Idaho if Alaska flips to blue this November, the comparison has a certain charm. Idaho voters can choose between a Peacemaker and a Winchester, then select one candidate for governor. One vote per voter, not multiple.

Alaska voters face a ranked-choice general election mess, where a single candidate contest can ask them to mark first, second and subsequent choices. Idaho voters rejected a proposal to adopt a top-four primary and ranked-choice general election in 2024. There are 19 states that have banned the Alaska-style ranked-choice voting.

Of course, the names Peacemaker and Pro-Life make Idaho’s ballot memorable enough on their own. Alaskans looking for a simpler ballot may find one there, provided they can settle the Winchester-versus-Colt debate first.

Trivia question: What is the official Alaska state firearm since 2014? Answer in the comment section below or check our Facebook page later today for the correct answer.