Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy joins Idaho governor's race

Bundy is perhaps most well known for his participation in the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

By Joseph Weber

Published: May 22, 2021 11:13am

Updated: May 22, 2021 11:24am

Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy is running for Idaho governor, according to several news reports.

The 45-year-old Bundy on Friday filed paperwork with the state, according to the Idaho Statesman newspaper.

The paperwork will allow him to collect donations for a gubernatorial campaign in an already crowed Republican field that includes Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin.

Gop Gov. Brad Little has not officially announced a reelection bid.

Bundy has a long history of activism including his opposition to government-imposed COVID-19 health-safety restrictions that he considered overbearing. And just last month, incidents at the Idaho statehouse resulted in two misdemeanor trespassing charges.

Last August, he was barred from the capitol grounds for one year and prohibited from coming to the public areas of the building. Bundy is perhaps most well known for the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon that resulted in the death of one his cohorts, the newspaper also reports.