Conservative Showdown: What to Know About Idaho's 2026 Primary Elections

Idaho, one of six states holding primary elections on Tuesday, lies in the northwestern U.S. near the Canadian border. It is a solidly Republican state: since 1974, it has not sent a Democrat to the Senate; the last Democrat to win federal office was in 2008 — Representative Walt Minnick, who served only one term.

Given its deep-red profile, the results of Idaho's primaries carry extra weight: the Republican winner typically cruises to victory in the November general election. Many primaries are battles between moderates and more hardline conservatives.

Voting Hours

Polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (14:00 GMT May 19 to 02:00 GMT May 20).

Offices Up for Election

Idaho, an agricultural state with a population of over 2 million, has only two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both seats and one Senate seat are up for re-election in the primary. At the state level, multiple positions are on the ballot, most notably the governorship.

Candidates for Governor

Several primary races in Idaho pit incumbents against challengers who want to push state politics further right. Incumbent Governor Brad Little, 72, a rancher, is seeking a third term. In the Republican primary, he faces seven opponents, but only Ron James — a county commissioner — is an elected official. Mark Fitzpatrick, a former police officer and business owner who calls himself a "strong cultural warrior," appears to be the most active challenger. Fitzpatrick has out-raised funds and attracted county-level support. He criticizes Little as a "traitor" for allowing "the illegal immigration invasion," and last year held a "Celebration of the Wonderfulness of Heterosexuality" to protest LGBTQ pride events. On the Democratic side, four candidates seek the nomination; former public defender Terri Pickens leads in fundraising.

Candidates for House Seats

Idaho has two congressional districts: one runs from the Canadian border down the western side, the other wraps around the southeastern corner, including the capital Boise. The first district is represented by Republican Representative Russ Fulcher, who faces two challengers, though neither has reported significant contributions. In the second district, incumbent Representative Mike Simpson, a former dentist, is seeking his 15th term since 1999. He has spent over $600,000 on his campaign; only one opponent, Perry Shumway, raised enough to report ($5,291.98 as of late April). In the second district, Ellie Gilbreath runs uncontested after her only opponent withdrew.

Senate Race

Former Idaho Governor Jim Risch is seeking a fourth term in the Senate. In January, he received an endorsement from Trump, who called him "one of the strongest allies" in the Senate. The Republican primary for this seat has seen more spending than most other races, but the incumbent's war chest dwarfs the competition: his political action committee spent over $1 million, while his closest opponent, Josh Roy, spent about $23,500. On the Democratic side, only David Roth — a nonprofit employee and the first openly gay candidate to seek a statewide nomination in Idaho — has reported more than $5,000 in funding.

Stakes of the Race

In recent years, Idaho's primaries have highlighted a rift within the Republican Party between traditional conservatives and the far-right. Trump has intervened in some races, turning the primaries into a test of his influence. In 2022, Governor Little defeated a challenge from Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin — who was endorsed by Trump — after Little imposed some COVID-19 restrictions that angered the MAGA movement. Despite Trump backing McGeachin, Little won; but since then, he has rarely crossed Trump. In 2025, he signed a bill banning masks, one of several policy shifts that helped him regain Trump's support this time.

Idaho's incumbent House and Senate members have all received Trump's endorsement. This could make primary day less dramatic. As Kevin Richert from Idaho Education News noted: "Idaho's statewide primaries might be boring."

Opportunities for Independent Candidates

Idaho has not had a Democratic governor since 1995, but the Republican primary winner is not guaranteed to win the general election. Independent candidate John Stegner, a former Idaho Supreme Court justice, will not appear on the primary ballot but has turned heads by raising more money in three months than the leading Democrat did in two years. Incumbent Senator Jim Risch also faces an independent challenge from Todd Achilles, a former state representative who is actively fundraising and has released a poll (funded by his own campaign) showing he could beat Risch.