Stephanie Mickelsen
Stephanie Mickelsen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the 32A district | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Marc Gibbs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mark Mickelsen |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Brigham Young University–Idaho (AS) |
Stephanie Jo Mickelsen[1] is an American politician and farmer serving as a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives for the 32A district. She assumed office on December 1, 2022.
Early life and education
[edit]Mickelsen was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Carla Marie Christensen Wadsworth and Larry L Wadsworth. She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1987. She earned an associate's degree in economics from Brigham Young University–Idaho in 1988.[2] She is married to Mark Mickelsen, and they have four children, Andrew, Michelle, Samuel and Chelsea.[1]
Career
[edit]Outside of politics, Mickelsen is a potato farmer, Co-Chair of the Idaho Groundwater Appropriators, Chair of the Bonneville Jefferson Groundwater District and serves on the Board of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center(EIRMC). She is a former director of the Idaho Farm Bureau.[3] She was also a member of the board of trustees of the College of Eastern Idaho.[4] Mickelsen was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in November 2022.[5] Mickelsen was reelected in 2024 after defeating far-right candidate Kelly Golden in the Republican primary election. [6]
Targeting by the far right and ICE raid of family farm
[edit]On January 24, 2025, Mickelsen's family farm in Idaho was raided by ICE officials. The raid came just three days after a social media post by Ada County GOP Vice Chairman Ryan Spoon which called on ICE acting director Tom Homan to conduct raids on businesses owned by Mickelsen and provided him with a list of said businesses. Mickelsen suspects that this is what led to the raid, stating that "He started targeting me on Tuesday, and they were there by Friday." Mickelsen also believes that she has been targeted by fellow Republicans in Idaho because of her stance against far-right extremism. Mickelsen was censured and was told by her local Republican committee that she was no longer allowed to run for office as a Republican. Commenting on this, Mickelsen said "I think a lot of it has to do with I've been one of the few that have stood up to the to the far right extremism."
As a result of the raid, one worker at the farm was taken into ICE custody and taken to a detention center in Las Vegas. Mickelsen and her family claim that they would not knowingly employ an undocumented worker and that they comply with all state and federal laws.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Idaho State Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ "Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen – Idaho State Legislature". Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "Mickelsen Farms takes lead in sharing farmers' story with the masses". Spudman. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ Grossarth, Eric (2022-02-14). "Local woman announces run for Idaho House of Representatives". East Idaho News. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "Stephanie Mickelsen". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
- ^ "Stephanie Mickelsen". Idaho Voter Guide. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
- ^ Holmes, Brian (March 31, 2025). "Idaho GOP Lawmaker claims ICE raid followed political targeting". KTVB. Retrieved April 3, 2025.