The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
34°F
Current Conditions
Broken clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Idaho billionaire VanderSloot staying out of governor’s race

Frank VanderSloot, shown in Idaho Falls on July 11, 2008, owns Melaleuca, Inc. (John Miller / Associated Press)
Associated Press
Frank VanderSloot, shown in Idaho Falls on July 11, 2008, owns Melaleuca, Inc. (John Miller / Associated Press)

BOISE – Idaho billionaire Frank VanderSloot says he won’t endorse anyone in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial race.

VanderSloot, founder and chief executive of the health care products company Melaleuca, said Thursday he’s staying out of the primary despite being asked by all three major candidates for his support.

Currently, U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Boise businessman Tommy Ahlquist are the top contenders in the GOP primary for governor. The open seat is expected to be one of the top competitive political races in 2018 after Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has said he won’t run for a fourth term.

VanderSloot is a prominent GOP donor and one of Idaho’s biggest businessmen.

In 2012, VanderSloot and his company gave $1.1 million to Restore Our Future, a super political action committee that helped GOP nominee Mitt Romney.