COEUR d’ALENE — Lori Hickman, the Democratic candidate for Idaho attorney general, said she’s taking an independent approach to a partisan race, focusing on professionalism and ethical governance ahead of the Nov. 3 election. 

Hickman grew up in Boise. She graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University before pursuing a career in law in New York City. She later worked as an attorney in Salt Lake City before returning to Idaho to work as in-house counsel for Micron Technology. 

After stepping away from practicing law for a decade to raise her family in Boise, Hickman returned to the legal field. She worked for the United States District Court for the District of Idaho and for a Boise law firm. She also provides pro bono legal counsel for guardians in child protection cases. 

Hickman said her decision to run for office came at the urging of members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a nonpartisan organization that she chaired for five years. 

“It empowers and educates women to get civically involved,” she said of the organization. 

In a sit-down interview with The Press during her stop in Coeur d’Alene this week, Hickman said she’s watched the actions and decisions made by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a Republican, since his election to the office in 2022. 

“The role of an attorney is not to play politics, chase after culture war issues or be partisan,” she said. “If you’re in that role and letting politics influence how you’re being a lawyer, it’s not good for the people of Idaho or the rule of law.” 

She said Labrador has used his position to further his political agenda. 

“Mr. Labrador went after a schoolteacher who hung a poster that said ‘Everyone Is Welcome Here’ and made the ridiculous argument that it was political,” Hickman said, referring to an opinion published by the Idaho attorney general’s office last summer that the aforementioned sign could no longer be displayed in Idaho schools. 

Labrador said in an op-ed that the sign’s multicolored lettering and cartoon hands in different colors “signal adherence to diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

If elected, Hickman said she’d take a different approach to the role of attorney general. 

“I want to return to the tradition of the AG’s office being trusted legal advice,” she said. 

Though Hickman has been registered as a Democrat for most of her life and is running as a Democrat to challenge Labrador, she said she’s voted for candidates in different parties. 

She said she would characterize her campaign and her vision for the Idaho attorney general’s office as independent or nonpartisan. 

“I vote principles over party,” she said. 

It’s that philosophy that she said she would bring with her to the attorney general’s office and one she hopes will resonate with Idaho voters, who she believes are tired of toxic partisan politics. 

Hickman encouraged Idaho voters from across the political spectrum to carefully consider their choices this November. 

“Even if you’re a straight ticket voter, pay attention to who you’re voting for,” she said. “Voting is the most important part of our democracy.”