Raúl Labrador

Labrador ran for and won the Republican nomination for Idaho House Seat B against two other challengers. He won the general election with 65.55% against Daniel S. Weston.[7][8]

He was unopposed in the May 2008 Republican primary.[9] Labrador defeated Glida Bothwell in the general election, winning 69.1% of the vote.[10]

Labrador served on the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee in 2007, Judiciary, Rules, and Administration Committee from 2007 to 2010, the State Affairs Committee from 2007 to 2010, and the Transportation and Defense Committee from 2009 to 2010.[11]

Labrador in Las Vegas, 2011

Immigration

Labrador was a member of the "Gang of Eight," a bipartisan group of House members working on immigration reform legislation,[12] but on June 5, 2013, he left the negotiations because he wanted language in the bill requiring that illegal immigrants be responsible for their own health care costs.[13] Labrador said he would use his position on the House Judiciary Committee to pass immigration reform legislation.

Health

He voted for the American Health Care Act of 2017, which passed the House May 4, 2017.[14] One of the few Republican lawmakers who hosted a town hall after this vote, Labrador received national attention for stating during the meeting at Lewis-Clark State College that "Nobody dies because they don't have access to healthcare." The statement caused a huge outcry from the audience present and on social media for several days.[15][16]

Labrador voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in 2017.[17]

Civil liberties

In June 2015, Labrador introduced HR 2802, titled the "First Amendment Defense Act" (FADA) which was said to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs from action by the federal government. Critics, such as Ian Thompson of the American Civil Liberties Union claimed that the bill would "open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples."[18]

Town halls

Labrador was one of the few Republicans to host a town hall after the election of Donald Trump and the only member of United States congressional delegations from Idaho to host one.[19]

Tax reform

Labrador voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[20] He says the bill will "allow hard-working Idahoans to keep more of their money," including helping them "meet their expenses and make crucial investments."[21]

• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Federal Lands
  • Oversight and Investigations- Chair
• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security- Vice Chair
  • Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations

• Liberty Caucus[22]
• Freedom Caucus[23]
• Congressional Western Caucus[24]

On April 20, 2017 Labrador said he does not believe healthcare is a human right.[25][26][27] Labrador supports the full repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because he believes it will raise costs and kill jobs.[28]

Labrador supports requiring those illegally residing in the United States to be responsible for their own health care costs.[13]

Labrador has stated that he supports the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which provides for the direct election of members of the U.S. Senate by the voters in each state. Before the amendment was ratified in 1913 Senators were selected by the legislatures of their respective states. With regard to this position, Labrador has stated "I have a consistent philosophy about government and the importance of states' rights."[29]

Labrador is in favor of tax reform, specifically reform that rids of loopholes, lowers "overall rates," and reduces government spending so the national debt does not increase.[21]

Labrador is seen by many in eastern Idaho, which is not in his congressional district, as an opponent of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).[30]

On the July 6, 2014 episode of Meet the Press, Labrador stated that what the Obama administration needed to do was "immediately deport" young illegal immigrants. The comment came as part of a discussion about the estimated 52,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America who had tried to cross the border since October 2013.[31]

Labrador opposes late termination of pregnancy and believes "life begins at conception" and that "The unborn child is still a child – made in the image of God, who will one day have the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us. The fact that life begins at conception might be an uncomfortable truth for some. But it's a truth, all the same."[17]

Idaho is one of the states that has faith-healing exemption. In a debate, Labrador said he would not change it.[32]

Labrador has a "B" rating from NORML for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes. Labrador is in favor of veterans having access to medical marijuana if recommended by their Veterans Health Administration doctor and if it is legal for medicinal purposes in their state of residence. He also supports industrial hemp farming.[33]

Labrador has announced that he will run for Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party at its next State Central Committee meeting, having already received the backing and support of most IDGOP officers.[53]

On June 29, 2019, Labrador won Idaho Republican Party Chair by two votes, defeating former Superintendent of Education Tom Luna.[54]

In June 2020, Labrador resigned from his position as party chair and joined a local law firm. He was succeeded by Luna.[55]