The People First
Vote Independent Candidate Liyah Babayan for Idaho State Representative, District 25!
Putting Idahoans’ livelihoods first is Liyah’s top priority, as she champions strong public schools, medical freedom, protecting Idaho’s water and lands, and a limited, sensible government that respects individual liberty and spends taxpayer dollars wisely.
Top Priorities
Accountable & Limited Government
Power to the people, not the special interests, not the Party establishment, not the bureaucracy. The proper role of government is to be limited, sensible, transparent, and accountable to the people first. Free from conflicts of interest, nepotism or kickbacks, our elected officials must expose dishonesty, waste, and laziness, and prioritize the people in every decision. Career politicians too often serve corporations, big business, and special interest donors, which is why I am Independent and refuse contributions from PACs or corporations. I am running a 100% people-funded campaign to restore integrity and accountability to our representative democracy. As your Independent Candidate, I bring independent judgment, diverse perspectives, and a commitment to restore integrity, accountability, and transparency to our democracy, ensuring a government that truly works for all Idahoans.
Personal Liberty & Medical Access
A healthy Idaho begins with healthy families and individuals. Our state faces a growing crisis: the meth and opioid epidemic is destroying lives across all communities. Criminalizing addiction and building more jails doesn’t address the root causes: mental health, education, and access to preventative care. I support the legalization of medical marijuana and stand for medical privacy and liberty for women, including access to reproductive healthcare because healthcare decisions belong to the individual, not the government. I am the only candidate with decades of proven action empowering Idahoans to exercise their constitutional rights, including gathering signatures for citizen initiatives. Most recently, I led the effort to get Twin Falls District 25 certified to put Reproductive Freedom on the ballot this November, giving voters a voice on critical issues. As your Independent State Representative, I will bring an unbought, unbossed voice to the legislature fighting for policies that protect public health, safeguard individual liberty, and prioritize Idaho families over special interests and party politics.
Affordable Housing & Low Taxes
As Idaho’s population grows, the rising cost of living, housing, and doing business affects every resident. Taxpayers are increasingly burdened, and our elected officials must be prudent cutting waste, streamlining spending, and investing wisely. Twin Falls serves as a commercial hub for Southern Idaho and is experiencing growth from outside residents, which increases strain on local first responders and infrastructure. Current costs for maintenance are largely carried by local taxpayers despite regional use. The State’s sales tax allocation formula should be reviewed and updated using current data to better reflect this regional demand. Adjusting the formula could help relieve the burden on the city budget and free funds for other local priorities. The most urgent issue is the housing crisis, especially the shortage of affordable homes for lower-income families. Poverty and homelessness are rising, and vulnerable residents senior citizens, veterans, and individuals with disabilities face tough choices between paying for heat, housing, or healthcare. We must understand the struggles of Idaho’s working families and include their voices in decisions about housing, taxes, and budgeting. While the government should protect private property rights, it also has a role in ensuring housing needs are met by giving developers the tools, incentives, and guidance aligned with public policy. At the same time, Idaho’s natural resources rivers, lakes, forests, and open lands must be protected. Policies should ensure access to fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation while safeguarding our water and environment for future generations. For every Idaho family, the American Dream means a safe home, healthy environment, and access to the outdoors.
Resource Impact & Development
Our natural landscapes and resources are the lifeblood of the Magic Valley. From Shoshone Falls to the Snake River, water sustains our farms, wildlife, and communities, forming the backbone of southern Idaho’s economy. Rapid development and large projects threaten fragile topsoil, aquifers, and delicate ecosystems. I’ve built my small businesses on sustainability, consignment, recycling, and minimizing waste, proving that economic growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. I am the only candidate with hands-on experience protecting Idaho’s lands, serving seven years on Twin Falls Parks & Rec and speaking out against projects like the Lava Ridge wind turbines, which would have harmed our landscapes and water. This experience guides my commitment to future-proof decisions that protect water, soil, and diverse lands, ensuring that Idaho’s farms, wildlife, and communities thrive for generations while growing our economy, supporting small businesses, and preserving the outdoor way of life we cherish.
Champion Public Education
Education is Idaho’s #1 priority and it deserves leadership that truly understands how it works. As the only independent candidate with real experience serving on the Twin Falls School Board, I’ve overseen operational budgets, implemented state and federal programs, and seen firsthand how funding decisions impact our classrooms. For too long, the state has underfunded our schools and shifted the burden onto local property taxpayers through levies. I will fight to increase state support for public education, raise teacher pay, invest in safe and modern school buildings especially in rural communities and protect local control of curriculum. I support and value teachers as essential defenders of a free society, nurturing the minds of the next generation of citizens. Our students must be prepared not just for work, but to compete and succeed in a global talent market. That means a strong academic foundation, real career pathways, and the skills to innovate, adapt, and lead.
Supporting Small Business
Small businesses are the backbone of Idaho’s economy and the heart of our local culture and traditions. I am the only candidate with lived small business experience, not an inherited career over 19 years, I’ve built three businesses from the ground up, relying on global supply chains while producing local products, with years of sacrifice, dedication, and showing up for our community just like many small business owners in Twin Falls. I understand how the interdependent costs of goods, broadband access, and economic instability can disrupt the lifelines of small business and everyday commerce. Small business owners deserve a seat at the policy table to secure economic prosperity for their families and the communities they serve. I will fight to reduce bureaucracy, cut red tape, and ensure Idaho’s small businesses have the tools they need to thrive.
Ways to Support Liyah
Contributions can also be made online, in person or by mailing a check to Liyah Babayan at P.O. Box 5762, Twin Falls, ID 83301 or via direct deposit to the “The People’s Campaign” at any D.L. Evans branches. Thank you for your grassroots support.
How to Support
Support the campaign in the way that’s easiest for you.
You can send a contribution via Venmo (@babayanL)
Mail a check to:
P.O. Box 5762
Twin Falls, ID 8330
Give in person at any D.L. Evans branch under “The People’s Campaign.”
Or you can use the link below to make an online donation.
Qualifications
- Holds two Bachelor’s in International Studies and Political Science
- 2010-2018 Appointed by Mayor Hall to T.F. Park & Rec Committee.
- 2014-2017 Served on Twin Falls School Board of Trustees.
- 2017 Presented with the "Service to Education" award by the T.F. School District.
- 2018 Recipient of the Idaho's Hometown Hero Award by Governor Otter.
- 2018 Recipient of the Idaho Civil Rights Service Award.
- 2020 Idaho's Women of the Year Honoree by Idaho Business Review.
- 2021 Recipient of the "Extra Mile" Award by Governor Brad Little
- 2022 Served on the National Women’s Business Council. (A federal advisory to the U.S. President, Congress and the Small Business Administration on issues related to Idaho’s business enterprise.)
- 2026 Awarded Idaho's Business Leader of the Year
- Small buisness owner for 19 years, business coach and women in business advocate.
- Author of “Liminal, a refugee memoir,” Community advocate and National speaker.
- Survived genocide, war, and homelessness, that shaped resilience and a commitment to community.
- First-generation entrepreneur and founder of four small businesses in Twin Falls, including Ooh La La Boutique.
Service Above Self
Liyah Babayan’s professional background in political and military science, combined with 19 years of experience as a small business owner navigating the peak of the economic recession, has shaped her resourcefulness, community focus, and smart budgeting skills. She knows firsthand that small businesses are the backbone of Idaho’s economy, and she understands how excessive bureaucracy, red tape, and overreaching regulations can stifle local businesses. As an Independent Candidate, Liyah pledges to be a transparent, accountable, and independent voice in policymaking putting the people first, not partisan politics, nepotism, or special interest influence.
Paid for by Liyah Babayan The People First | Campaign Treasurer Sergio Larios