BetterCandidate

Tammy Nichols

State Senate District 10
Republican
Middleton, Idaho

About Tammy Nichols

Tammy Nichols currently serves as a Central Committee woman in Canyon County and co-chair of the hardline conservative Idaho Freedom Caucus– she has received endorsements from both organizations as well as a high Freedom Index rating by the Idaho Freedom Foundation. She served two terms in the Idaho State House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022 and then switched chambers to the Idaho State Senate. During her tenure, Nichols ran a bill to attempt to ban the use of mRNA vaccines in all mammals and fought against the Idaho Patient Act. This bill lowered the fees that medical debt collection attorneys could add to people who owed medical debt.

Education
Brigham Young University Idaho
AAS - Business Management

Occupation
Middleton Property Management
Owner

Political Experience
Idaho State House of Representatives
2018-2022

Canyon County Republican Central Committee
Precinct Officer 2016-2020

Legislative Record

Tammy Nichols is a Republican serving in the Idaho Senate since December 1, 2022, representing District 10; previously, she served in the Idaho House from 2018 to 2022. She co-chairs the Idaho Freedom Caucus, staking out ground on the most conservative wing of her party.

Notable Votes and Sponsored Legislation

  • Voted against increasing funding for schools with high-needs students.

  • Supported lowering interest costs for charter schools through a state credit enhancement program.

  • Backed a bill letting child-care facilities set their own child-to-staff ratios.

  • Consistently supported privatized or market-driven education initiatives.

Key legislation:

  • SB 1038 – Education Choice Act (2023): Pushed school vouchers to expand “education choice.”

  • HB 154 (2023): Attempted to criminalize the use of mRNA-based vaccines and mandate food labeling for “vaccine materials.”

  • Legislation to reduce regulatory requirements on childcare providers: Advocated for parental control and deregulation.

  • Bills tied to the Idaho Freedom Caucus agenda: Often aligned with anti-mandate, pro-school choice, and reduced-taxation measures.

News & Editorials

IDAHO LAWMAKER TAMMY NICHOLS PALS WITH EXTREMISTS

News • Jason Wilson, SPLC Hatewatch • 03/15/2023

Third-term Idaho state Sen. Tammy Nichols has associated publicly with several extremists in recent weeks, first posting a photo of herself at a GOP fundraising event with a white nationalist YouTuber she praised as “amazing,” and last week appearing on the show of a far-right livestreamer to promote a state House bill that would criminalize the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

New Idaho Bill Would Criminalize Anyone Administering Covid-19 mRNA Vaccines

News • Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes • 02/18/2023

If two Idaho state lawmakers get their way, it would become a criminal misdemeanor to administer a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine in Idaho. Yep, you heard that correctly. State Senator Tammy Nichols and State Representative Judy Boyle, both Republicans, have co-sponsored House Bill (HB) 154 for Idaho, otherwise known as the “Gem State.” Yeah, this bill is quite a gem if you’ve been collecting all of the “WTF” moments from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Convicted felon claims to have been security for Tammy Nichols

News • Tracy Bringhurst, Boise Weekly • 06/14/2022

While counter protesting an abortion-rights rally held at the Idaho Capitol on May 14, Rep. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, was photographed with convicted felon Bryan Jacob Hayhurst.

In 2009, the Idaho Department of Corrections described Hayhurst, who then went by Bryan McGonigal, as a "dangerous" sex offender. In 2004, a Bannock County judge sentenced him to prison for felony injury to a child, court records show.

Idaho lawmaker posts meme appearing to advocate violence

News • Keith Ridler (AP), KTVB • 10/14/2021

A far-right Idaho Republican lawmaker has posted a meme on Twitter appearing to advocate violence against journalists, educators, conservationists, the state’s largest university and other organizations ahead of an upcoming election in November.

Rep. Tammy Nichols on Tuesday posted an image showing former President Donald Trump, a red-colored Idaho image covering his head and face, carrying a barbwire-wrapped baseball bat and others behind him with their heads covered with logos representing 11 groups, including KTVB and Boise State University.

Endorsements & Affliations

Tammy Nichols Videos

  • Nichols and Stew Peters

  • Nichols and YAL

  • Nichols at CPAC

  • Nichols at Giddings Ethics Hearing