Gov. Little appoints Brandon Shippy to Idaho State Senate to fill Abby Lee’s seat

Brandon Shippy, the Republican frontrunner for a southwestern Idaho State Senate seat, will fill the seat ahead of November’s election.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Thursday announced he appointed Shippy to serve as a state senator representing Idaho Legislative District 9 until Nov. 30. That’s the remainder of a term by Idaho Senate Assistant Majority Leader Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, who didn’t run for re-election. Lee resigned July 1, according to her state legislative webpage. 

“I am honored to be appointed to the Idaho State Senate,” Shippy said in a news release issued by the governor’s office. “During the primary, I extensively toured our district, listening to the concerns of my neighbors from Cambridge to Greenleaf. I look forward to representing our community in Boise.”

The governor’s office said Payette County Republicans submitted a list of three names for Little, per Idaho law on filling Idaho legislative vacancies.

In May, Shippy won the Idaho Republican primary election for the seat, earning 51.7% of the vote, according to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office. In the Nov. 5 general election, Shippy is set to face Democrat Rachel Buck.

A Payette County native, Shippy owns Shippy Sprinkler LLC in New Plymouth and is a church deacon, according to the news release. He and his wife have three children and serve as foster care providers, the release said. He also is a local precinct committeeman and Payette County Republican Central Committee youth chairperson, according to the release.