Sandpoint mayor and Lewiston native Shelby Rognstad announced Monday that he will run in the Idaho governor’s race as a Democrat. Rognstad, who was re-elected as mayor of Sandpoint in 2019, made the announcement to supporters at the Lewis Clark Hotel in Lewiston.
Rognstad touted his bona fides as a fourth-generation Idahoan, a small business owner, and a University of Idaho graduate during his campaign kick-off, and later on commented on why he’s running as a Democrat.
Rognstad focused on the issues of the pandemic, education, and the environment, including public lands in the state, and even took aim at the current governor’s pandemic response.
Rognstad is the second Democrat to throw his hat into the ring, after Melissa Sue Robinson of Nampa. There are currently 11 Republicans who are vying for the position, including Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin and anti-government activist Ammon Bundy.
