Priscilla Giddings

Priscilla Giddings is an American far-right politician who served as a member of Idaho House of Representatives from the 7A district.

She was a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Idaho in the 2022 election.

In 2021 she was censured by the Idaho Legislature for publishing the identity of the teenage victim raped by her Republican colleague Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, attacking her online and in newsletters; and then lying under oath.

Giddings was born in Bakersfield, California, where she lived for much of her childhood.

She and her parents gradually relocated to a ranch in White Bird, Idaho, in the late 1990s.

She graduated from Salmon River Junior–Senior High School.

In 2005, Giddings earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the United States Air Force Academy.

She was a pilot with the 81st Fighter Squadron, and was a B Flight Commander from 2008 to 2014.

In 2012, Giddings earned a Master of Science in exercise and sports science from the California University of Pennsylvania.

Giddings spent nine years on active duty in the United States Air Force.

In 2014, Giddings became an air liaison officer in Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Air Support Operations Squadron.

In 2014, Giddings was an admissions liaison officer in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.

She held the rank of major in the Air Force Reserve, and in 2021 was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Giddings is the president of Air Force Academy Idaho Alumni Association.

Giddings represents the 7th district, which encompasses Idaho, Clearwater, and Shoshone counties, plus a small portion of Bonner County.

In 2016, Giddings defeated incumbent Shannon McMillan, in the Republican primary with 61.1% of the vote.

Giddings defeated Democratic candidate Jessica Chilcott with 70.8% of the votes in the general election.

In 2016, Giddings claimed a homeowner's exemption over two homes.

Under Idaho law, a taxpayer may claim a homeowner's exemption over only one primary, occupied residence.

In 2018, Giddings defeated McMillan and Ryan Lawrence with 56.1% of the vote in the Republican primary.

Giddings was unopposed in the general election.

The Ada County assessor's office sought back taxes against Giddings, and Ada County commissioners voted unanimously that Giddings was not entitled to an exemption over her Garden City home, and denied her appeal in 2018.

In 2019, Giddings introduced a measure to block requirements that incoming 12th grade students receive a meningitis booster vaccination.

In 2019, Giddings proposed legislation to require schools and daycare centers to notify parents of their entitlement to exempt their children from all required immunizations; the bill passed the state House, but died in the Senate.

In 2019, Giddings introduced a measure urging Congress to remove "wilderness study area" status from hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Idaho, opening these areas up to industrial use.

In 2021, Giddings voted against a $1.1 billion bill to increase salaries for Idaho public schoolteachers; as a result, the bill failed on equally divided (34–34) state House vote.

Also in 2021, Giddings was among the most outspoken opponents of accepting $6 million in federal funds for grants to early childhood education providers; a dispute over whether to accept the funds sparked a political furor in the state, as right-wing state legislators promoted misinformation and fringe conspiracy theories about the bill.

In April 2021, Idaho Republican state Representative Aaron von Ehlinger raped a 19-year-old intern.

In August 2021, on her Facebook account and in her newsletter, Giddings publicly released the identity and a photo of the woman, who had previously been referred to as Jane Doe to protect her identity.

Giddings also made disparaging remarks about the woman and the allegations.

When this was referred to the Idaho House Ethics Committee, Giddings initially denied sharing the information.

During the meeting, another committee member showed lawmakers that the post was still on Giddings' Facebook account.

In 2020, Giddings defeated Dennis Harper in the Republican primary with 56.43% of the vote.

Giddings was unopposed in the general election.

Giddings is associated with the far-right wing of the Republican Party.

During her tenure in the House, Giddings has often disparaged the press, dismissing unflattering news stories as "fake".

In 2021, Giddings sought to defund Idaho Public Television.

Her motion failed on a 2–16 vote.

In 2020, Giddings sponsored legislation that would prohibit the state or any Idaho locality from contracting with a business that "discriminates against persons on the basis of their vaccination records or vaccination state."

She condemned healthcare providers who required their employees to be vaccinated.