Tensions over harder issues

But not everyone in Idaho is happy with the influx of Republicans.

On the streets of the state capital Boise, where Democrats outnumber Republicans, some — like Idaho Sen. and Democrat Melissa Wintrow — told CNA that Republican views worry them and are pushing Idaho further to the right.

These include tougher opinions on issues such as access to abortion, gay rights and education.

“What I'm afraid of is people moving here because of this extreme ideologue, because of a supposed ideologue, a supposed political leaning,” Wintrow said.

“But what’s really happening is that the majority of Idahoans who live here and are traditional Republicans don’t approve of this.”

However, with Idaho being the second-fastest growing state after Utah, real estate agents are selling Idaho as the place conservatives can move to if they are looking for others who share their political and ideological views.

This includes Conservative Move, an organization of real estate agents who help people move across state lines to places with conservative values.

“People are conservative-minded, and many of us who were transplanted here felt like we were being pushed out of our state, unlike us who wanted to leave. And that’s what I’m hearing more and more from those making inquiries,” said real estate agents Jason and Kelli Krafsy of Conservative Move.

“They just feel like they don’t fit in their state anymore – and that’s not because they’ve changed. The state has changed.”