BOISE — Independent gubernatorial candidate and former Idaho Supreme Court Justice John Stegner announced the official launch of his campaign Tuesday after receiving the signatures necessary to appear on the November ballot.

Stegner, 72, is a lifelong Idahoan from Grangeville who has long been involved in the state’s judicial branch. After getting his start practicing law in Lewiston, he served as a district judge in Moscow and as a justice on the Idaho Supreme Court from his appointment in 2018 through to his retirement in 2023. He has since returned to private practice as a mediator.

Stegner announced in February his campaign would begin in earnest, but at that point work was still to be done to ensure he could be on the ballot come November. Idaho statute requires independent candidates to receive 1,000 verified signatures from registered voters to have their name on the general election ballot, and Stegner said Tuesday his campaign has cleared this hurdle by a sizable margin with about 3,500 signatures.

Stegner’s campaign finance report shows his independent bid has garnered $393,332 in contributions. Among gubernatorial candidates, this places him second only to incumbent Gov. Brad Little, who has garnered $2.1 million in contributions.

As for what he has felt resonated with prospective voters, Stegner said he presented a “welcome alternative” from partisan labels alongside a judicial background he said allows him to be viewed as a problem-solver. “I think people are eager to vote for leaders over labels,” Stegner said. “That, I think, is part of who I am and part of the message that I bring.”

For his problem-solving bona fides, Stegner pointed to his role in creating the drug court and mental health court for Latah County. These treatment courts are utilized to redirect non-violent felony offenders into treatment programs, rather than incarcerating them.

“I think the society needs to provide mental health care and drug addiction care for people who aren’t in the criminal justice system,” Stegner said, “and when we figure that out, we will have made Idaho safer and better.”

Stegner said a key concern for the broad direction of state government is the lack of public officials taking into account feedback on pending legislation. He highlighted Little’s signing of the state’s $50 million school choice tax credit bill in 2025 after a poll from his office had 86% of respondents urging him to veto the bill, as was previously reported by the Idaho Press.

“There’s a recognized disconnect between what’s going on, what’s being told to our elected officials,” Stegner said of his conversation with Idahoans.

Interested voters will be able to hear more about Stegner and his priorities during a virtual campaign launch event on Thursday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Further information on this event as well as future statewide tour stops will be posted to StegnerForIdaho.com.