The last time a Democrat was elected to a statewide position in Idaho, George W. Bush was president and the iPhone wouldn’t be released for another five years.

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea says the best chance to change that in 2026 is the race for state superintendent of public instruction.

“This race is a priority for us,” Necochea told EdNews on Monday from the party’s headquarters in Boise. “It’s the statewide office we’ve held most recently as a party. It’s the race that we’ve come the closest to winning statewide in recent cycles.”

But no Democrats have stepped up to the plate yet. Necochea said they are talking to multiple potential candidates who will stand up for public schools.

Any candidates have about two months to decide. The filing period is Feb. 23 to 27.

“I think if we get someone going in January, that’s enough runway,” Necochea said.

Elected to a four-year term in 2022 by a 40-point margin over Democrat Terry Gilbert, State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield has raised $53,000 for the 2026 election cycle. Critchfield told EdNews on Tuesday that no official announcement has been made regarding her re-election, but one is forthcoming.

While the race in 2022 was a blowout, the 2018 election was much closer. Democrat Cindy Wilson lost to Republican Sherri Ybarra by a 3-point margin.

The last Democrat to hold the office was Marilyn Howard, elected in 2002 in a three-way race. She received 52.2% of the vote to Republican Tom Luna’s 45.4%. Libertarian candidate Robbi Kier received 2.5%.

Necochea said there are plenty of Republican voters out there who trust Democrats more on education. The ongoing budget shortfalls, cuts to higher education and $50 million private school tax credit scheme are all shining a light on how Republicans have left education behind. 

Republican legislators adopted “phony revenue estimates” and went on a spree of tax cuts in this year’s session, while Democrats were sounding the alarm and pointing to the Idaho Tax Commission’s revenue predictions. She said Republicans are making decisions based on political survival out of fear of primary challenges from the right.

“I think the voters who are looking at this mismanagement are wondering, where are the adults in the room?” she said.

Opportunity in 2026

With that in mind, Idaho Democrats want to gain nine seats in the state Legislature next year and break the Republican supermajority in the next 10 years, Necochea said.

During an interview, she pointed to a map of Idaho’s legislative districts on the wall behind her and noted four swing districts: District 6 (Latah, Nez Perce and Lewis counties), District 15 (Boise), District 26 (Blaine, Lincoln and Jerome counties), and District 29 (Pocatello).

She noted the changing national environment, where voters are picking Democrats. Voters in Virginia and New Jersey elected Democratic governors in November and New Yorkers elected a Democratic socialist mayor.

“You never know what might happen in a world where we’re seeing these massive shifts to the left,” Necochea said.

President Donald Trump won’t be on the ballot in 2026, but Necochea said Idaho Democrats tend to perform better in midterm elections with a Republican president, adding that voters are less interested in showing up for a political party that has “run our economy into the ground.”

“We see this as a huge opportunity to gain ground,” Necochea said.

Qualities for a state superintendent candidate

Democrats are looking for a superintendent candidate who has experience in education, has spent time in the classroom and is willing to make sure there is a strong neighborhood school for every child in Idaho. That candidate needs to be able to travel around the state to fundraise and deliver the message, Necochea said.

As budget cuts will be necessary for the 2026 legislative session and a conservative think-tank is already calling for cuts to K-12 public schools, Necochea said they need a Democrat who is willing to stand up and say, “We can’t afford this revenue cut.”

Once voters select their candidates in the May primaries, Necochea said the Idaho Democratic Party plans on running their biggest coordinated campaign ever for the November election. They will knock on doors, make phone calls and send out mailers and digital ads.

The Democratic Party is a big tent, she said, and she hopes traditional Republicans will see the infighting within their own party and realize the Democrat on the ballot will better represent their values.

“While they’re fighting amongst themselves, we’ll be planning for success in November to get our candidates across the finish line,” Necochea said.