Idaho State Rep. Paulette Jordon, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, member of the tribal council and who sits on the board of several Indian gaming organizations, has announced her candidacy for state governor. She will be seeking the Democratic nomination.
That practically guarantees that gaming, and specifically Indian gaming, will be a big factor in the governor’s race this year.
Jordan, a three-term representative is a well-connected national politician with contacts who have worked in the last three Democratic presidential administrations.
She is the first Indian woman to run for governor of Idaho, and the second Native American to run for the job.
With Jordan in the raise it is seek as likely that the issue of “historic horse racing” video games that the state’s racetracks have fought to be allowed to have will be raised. The state’s gaming tribes have successfully fought their deployment, and once they were deployment, got them removed by the legislature.
Jordan will likely voice the tribal view that such games violate the tribe’s monopoly on casino style gaming and constitutes illegal competition.
