BALLOT BEAT

Updated at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 with a statement from Christine Ivie, who says she is not planning on running at this time.

Two independent conservative Christian candidates have taken steps to run for Senate and House seats in a notable Idaho swing district.

District 26 — covering Blaine, Lincoln and Jerome counties — had a close three-way race for the Senate in 2024 that led to the re-election of Sen. Ron Taylor, D-Hailey, by a 1.7% margin.

Independent candidate Kala Tate received 10.5% of the vote and told the Twin Falls Times-News days after the election that she achieved her campaign’s goal and “stole several thousand votes” from Republican Laurie Lickley in order to elect Taylor.

God told her to run, Tate added.

Tate said Lickley is a very powerful politician and wanted to keep her out of the Idaho Legislature.

“That was ultimately all we were supposed to do and it worked, so praise God,” Tate told the Twin Falls newspaper.

Tate is now the campaign treasurer for two family members with active accounts in Idaho Sunshine for the 2026 election. Naming a campaign treasurer is typically a precursor to running.

For the Senate, Shaila Joanne Tate, a board member at Heritage Academy Charter School in Jerome, named Kala Tate as her campaign treasurer on Jan. 27.

Republican Christine Ivie, the superintendent of Heritage Academy, has also named a campaign treasurer for the seat. Ivie in 2019 filed a $500,000 defamation claim against the Idaho Public Charter School Commission after commissioners in leaked audio of an executive session made offensive comments about Ivie.

But Ivie told EdNews on Monday, Feb. 9, that at this time she is not planning on running.

“Our school is working on a campus expansion plan that will require a great deal of fundraising,” Ivie wrote in an email. “I think it would be challenging to run for office or serve in the Legislature while we are working on that project.”

For House Seat A, Isabella Grace Schiffler, a Jerome County Republican precinct committee person elected in 2024, also named Kala Tate as her campaign treasurer on Jan. 27.

On Schiffler’s Substack blog, she wrote last month that the government has too much power and “we need to take it back.”

“They decide what our children are being taught in school and unfortunately, it’s wokism,” Schiffler wrote. “The government is beyond corrupt. They reap the reward of our labor, rob us, cheat us, brainwash us, feed us propaganda, poison us with the processed foods we eat, and so much more. We need to start paying attention.”

District 26 is solidly purple.

In 2020, Democrats held all three legislative seats, elected by wide margins. After redistricting in 2021, the margins became very tight. Two Democrats and one Republican controlled the district after the 2022 election:

• Senate: Taylor beat Lickley by a 3.6% margin.
• House Seat A: Democrat Ned Burns defeated Republican Mike Pohanka by just 37 votes, or 0.24%.
• House Seat B: Republican Jack Nelsen defeated Democrat Karma Fitzgerald by 84 votes, or 0.54%.

In 2024, Republicans picked up another seat, leaving Taylor as the only Democrat in District 26 today, thanks in part to Kala Tate’s independent campaign that siphoned votes from Lickley. The House results:

• House Seat A: In a rematch, Pohanka flipped the seat away from Burns by 535 votes, or 2.4%.
• House Seat B: Nelsen won re-election over Democrat challenger Chris Hansen by 683 votes, or 3%.

With a history of tight margins and two independent candidates potentially on the ballot in District 26, there’s no telling what might happen in November.

The filing period to run in Idaho is Feb. 23 to 27.

School choice supporter James Lamborn announced Thursday he is running for the Idaho House, seeking to unseat Rep. Rick Cheatum, R-Pocatello, for District 28 Seat A.

Cheatum opposed House Bill 93 last year, which created the $50 million Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit. Parents can apply for $5,000 to pay for private school tuition.

Lamborn, a Republican, on his campaign website states the “one-size-fits-all” approach to education has left too many students behind. He supports empowering parents to make the best choices for their children’s education.

“It is now time that we as free Idahoans, virtuous conservatives, and autonomous adults correct our prior oversight … and take back, with all righteous authority bestowed unto us by nature and nature’s God, total subjugation over that which belongs to us solely: the type and amount of education to which we allow our children’s adherence,” Lamborn writes on his website (his ellipses).

Lamborn ran against Cheatum in the 2024 primary and lost in a three-way race. Cheatum received 40% of the vote, Lamborn received 33.2% and Mike Saville received 26.9%. Saville has again declared a campaign treasurer for the 2026 election.

Lamborn surpasses Cheatum on fundraising. Cheatum has raised $10,370 for the 2026 election cycle and Lamborn has raised $16,071.

Cheatum lists several education priorities on his campaign website. He supports expanding vocational, technical and career training programs and wants to end the dependence on local bond levies for school facilities.

“Every Idaho student deserves fair and adequate funding to succeed, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area — I’m focused on preparing our kids for real-world success beyond high school,” Cheatum writes.

In his announcement Thursday, Lamborn said District 28 deserves a “true conservative.”

“As conservatives, we need representatives who will stand firm for school choice, parental rights, fiscal responsibility, the Second Amendment, and the sanctity of life,” Lamborn wrote. “Idaho must never become the kind of state families feel they have to flee.”

The primary election is May 19.

A former Idaho Supreme Court justice and the owner of the Old State Saloon in Eagle have named campaign treasurers in the race for Idaho governor.

Ex-Supreme Court Justice John Robert Stegner and Old State Saloon owner Mark David Fitzpatrick both declared campaign treasurers in the last week.

The race is getting crowded, but the fundraising game hasn’t changed. Twelve people have declared campaign treasurers as of Thursday. One month ago there were seven. Naming a campaign treasurer is typically a precursor to filing to run. The filing period is Feb. 23 to 27.

Of the 12, seven are Republicans, three are Democrats, one is Libertarian and one is unaffiliated.

All fall short of Gov. Brad Little’s war chest. He has raised $1.21 million for the 2026 election, started with $188,000 from the previous cycle and has spent $174,000. His campaign has $1.22 million in the bank.

Only two other candidates have reported campaign contributions in Idaho Sunshine, Idaho’s campaign finance data website. Democrat Terri Pickens of Pocatello has raised $57,000, and Twin Falls democratic socialist candidate Maxine Durand has raised $3,208. Durand was an unaffiliated candidate but released a video on Jan. 30 stating she is running as a Democrat.

Some updates from the two new possible contenders:

• Stegner declared a campaign treasurer on Jan. 29. He is unaffiliated.
  • Stegner retired from the state’s highest court in October 2023.
  • In his resignation letter, he cited the pay disparity between Idaho Supreme Court justices and private practice. “The job requires extraordinary hours to do it well. In sum, the state is asking judges to do too much for too little,” he wrote.
  • Stegner confirmed to the Lewiston Tribune Tuesday that he plans to run for governor.
• Fitzpatrick declared a campaign treasurer on Wednesday. He is a Republican.
  • Fitzpatrick hosted the “Hetero Awesome Festival” in June to celebrate traditional family values and provide an alternative to the Boise Pride Festival.
  • KTVB reported that far-right podcaster David Reilly said at the event that Boise was a clean city and whispered, “There’s not a lot of Black people.” Fitzpatrick distanced himself from the remark.
  • Boise police provided extra security to Mayor Lauren McLean in December after Fitzpatrick offered a bounty for incriminating information on the mayor, the Idaho Statesman reported.
  • On Thursday, Fitzpatrick posted on X: “It is TIME for righteousness and truth to take back this NATION! After tomorrow… massive amounts of money will be thrown at defaming me. I wonder why?”
  • In a text message on Thursday afternoon, Fitzpatrick told EdNews there will be “an announcement of some sort” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Old State Saloon.

Sen. Brian Lenney wants to repeal a part of state law that lets registered voters sign an affidavit to prove their identity in order to vote.

The Nampa Republican proposed the bill Wednesday to the Senate State Affairs Committee, the Idaho Capital Sun reports. Current law allows registered voters to present a signed affidavit as an alternative to photo identification at the polls. 

“I would submit that there’s no valid excuse to show up last minute at the polls without an ID,” said Lenney, who called the affidavit process a “loophole.”

“You can’t go to a bar without an ID and sign a piece of paper saying, ‘I swear I’m 21,’ and get served drinks,” Lenney said, according to the Sun.

Lenney referenced the 2023 Legislature’s elimination of student IDs as a valid form of voter identification and lawmakers’ creation of a no-fee ID issued by the Department of Transportation that voters may use.

Still, not that many voters use the affidavit method, according to numbers Lenney highlighted before the committee. Of the 255,197 ballots cast in the 2025 election, the sate recorded .23% as using an affidavit.

A similar bill Lenney introduced last year never received a hearing. The House of Representatives voted down a bill that would have done the same thing in 2023. 

County election offices review affidavits to confirm the voter’s personal information and signature, said Chelsea Bishop, communications director for the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.

Rep. Lori McCann announced Saturday that she is running for Idaho Senate, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.

McCann, a Republican from Lewiston, describes herself as a lifelong educator and advocate for Idaho’s students, according to her Senate campaign website. She has represented District 6 House Seat A in Latah, Nez Perce and Lewiston counties since 2021 and now seeks to serve as the district’s senator.

McCann is a former vice chair of the House Education Committee. She is a strong supporter of the Idaho Launch grant program and an opponent of House Bill 93, which created a $50 million private school tax credit program.

In a December interview with EdNews, McCann said she is a “rule of law person” and believes Idaho’s first responsibility is public education.

“For me, who voted against House Bill 93, it isn’t about supporting school choice because I have always been an advocate for school choice and for home schooling, but not about public dollars going to private school,” McCann said in December.

McCann will join two Republicans and two Democrats who have active accounts in Idaho Sunshine for the 2026 Senate election in District 6. Here’s who has declared a campaign treasurer for the seat:

• Incumbent Sen. Daniel Foreman, R-Viola. He has raised $2,000.
• Republican Robert Blair. He ran for the seat in 2022 and 2024.
• Democrat Robin Weldy. She announced her campaign on Jan. 12.
• Democrat Richard Gayler. He announced his candidacy on his 2026 campaign website.

McCann’s decision to run for Idaho Senate would open up her seat in the House. Two Republicans and one Democrat have declared campaign treasurers for the seat. Here’s who might replace McCann in the House:

• Republican Colton Bennett. The 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran lost to McCann in the 2024 primary by a 3.1% margin. He has raised $26,920.
• Republican Ryan Augusta. He ran as an independent write-in candidate in 2024 and received three votes. He is registered as a Republican for 2026.
• Democrat Trish Carter-Goodheart. The community fundraiser and grant writer is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe. She received 9,648 votes, or 35.2%, in the 2024 general election against McCann.

The filing period is open from Feb. 23 to 27. The primary election is May 19, and the general election is Nov. 3.

Annual 2025 reports reveal a jump in fundraising for the 2026 elections.

Individuals with accounts in Idaho Sunshine, the state’s campaign finance portal, had to submit annual reports by Jan. 10 listing all contributions they received last year.

The money from the annual reports added up to $1.85 million as of Jan. 19 for 183 individuals who declared a campaign treasurer for this year’s elections for the Idaho Legislature. Eleven days prior, 174 individuals with accounts for legislative races had declared $917,000. 

The filing period to enter an election and get your name on the ballot in Idaho is Feb. 23-27, but anyone who is raising money must appoint a campaign treasurer with the secretary of state.

Here are the top 10 fundraisers for legislative races:

1. Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise: $133,021
2. Sen. Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert: $69,522
3. Rep. John Shirts, R-Weiser: $68,780
4. Sen. C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle: $56,600
5. Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star: $54,800
6. Sen. Treg Bernt, R-Meridian: $53,411
7. Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise: $41,645
8. Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian: $41,450
9. Sen. Camille Blaylock, R-Caldwell: $41,260.
10. Rep. Jason Monks, R-Nampa: $41,100

Statewide races

Annual reports also reveal a fundraising increase in races for statewide offices.

Sixteen incumbents and potential candidates with accounts for these races raised a combined $2.64 million as of Monday, Jan. 19.

Here are the highlights in the race for governor:

• Gov. Brad Little, who has not announced a run for re-election, has raised just under $1.3 million.
  • Average donation: $814
• Democrat Terri Pickens announced her campaign on Nov. 10, according to the Idaho Press, and has raised $54,484.
  • Average donation: $92
• The only other candidate for governor who has recorded campaign contributions is Maxine Durand, an independent socialist from Twin Falls. She has raised $3,208.
  • Average donation: $64

There are still no challengers for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield, a Republican. Democrats say they will prioritize the race for November. Critchfield has reported $89,000 in contributions, with an average donation of $1,391.

Some school leaders are talking about putting measures for supplemental funding and construction projects on the ballot.

Others aren’t.

“We won’t run anything in May,” Fremont County Superintendent Brandon Ferris told EdNews earlier this week.

Fremont County joined five other Idaho districts to go a combined zero for six in passing school bond issues last year — three failed measures in May and three in November.

Another one of those districts, Shelley, will also let things cool before going back to voters, Superintendent Doug McLaren told EdNews.

Shelley floated a $78.6 million bond issue for a new high school in May but received just 37% support — far from the required 66% supermajority needed for a bond request to pass in Idaho.

Voters squashed a $1.8 million measure in Camas County in November with 85% disapproval.

Visit our Elections page to see how past ballot measures performed heading into the May election. 

Despite 51% support for Fremont County’s $17 million bond issue in November, it’s still “not that good,” Ferris said, citing the state’s supermajority hurdle for bond issues. May is out of the picture to put a bond back on the ballot in Fremont County, Ferris added, but the November election is a possibility. 

Still, a statewide picture of ballot measures for May is emerging ahead of the election’s March 13 filing deadline for bonds and levies. 

Kimberly trustees asked administrators to start the process for running a plant facilities levy and bond issue in May, Superintendent Luke Schroeder announced at a board meeting Thursday night. Gooding, Glenns Ferry and Richfield could soon discuss measures, too, according to board agendas reviewed by EdNews.  

Unlike bond issues, which require two-thirds support to cover school constriction costs, levies range from chipping in supplemental funds to funding building repairs. Supplemental levies need a simple majority to pass, but other types require more. Click here for a detailed explainer. 

A lower hurdle for levies helps. Twenty of the 26 statewide supplemental levies passed in November.

With the ballot measure filing deadline approaching fast, a statewide snapshot will be accessible soon.

We’re watching. Follow our Ballot Beat blog for breaking election news and updates as things unfold. 

Has your district announced running a bond or levy? Email sean@idahoednews.org or devin@idahoednews.org with details. 

CORRECTION: The original post of this blog inaccurately said Jeff Agenbroad plans to get back into state politics, based on his updated Idaho Sunshine filings. He has not publicly made plans to run and has only declared a campaign treasurer for election year 2026 on the Sunshine filings, which is required if a candidate wants to keep the account open.

All of the pieces on the board for the May primaries won’t officially be set until the filing period in late February ends, but more candidates are filing Idaho Sunshine reports weekly.

EdNews is checking the reports to capture who is making plans to run for the Legislature. The filings list potential candidates who have submitted financial forms to declare a campaign treasurer, which is required before a candidate accepts donations.

Check our Ballot Beat blog daily for regular updates on the this year’s elections.

Here are some of the latest filings:

New challengers for the far-right ‘Gang of Eight’

Three members of the group of hardline conservatives who support spending cuts and maintenance-only budget requests have new apparent challengers.

District 8 House Seat B: Valley, Boise, Elmore, Custer counties

• Brian Beckley, chair of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Board, resigned from his position on Jan. 5 and plans on challenge Rep. Faye Thompson, R-McCall. Beckley appointed a campaign treasurer on Jan. 2.
  • • Beckley, a Republican from Glenns Ferry, raised $11,000 from Jan. 9 to 12, including $1,000 from the Idaho Dairy Industry Political Action Committee. 
    • Thompson has raised $6,710. She co-sponsored a bill last year to require public schools to read the Bible.

District 8 Senate: Valley, Boise, Elmore, Custer counties

• Former representative Terry Gestrin appointed a campaign treasurer on Jan. 9 for senator in District 8, held by Sen. Christy Zito, R-Mountain Home.
  • • Gestrin, a Donnelly resident, was appointed to the House in 2012 and lost his primary race in 2022.
    • Gestrin served on the House Education committee.

District 11 House Seat A: Caldwell

• Rep. Kent Marmon, R-Caldwell, will likely face two primary challengers.
• After a failed campaign for Caldwell City Council in November, Carlos Hernandez is interested in unseating Marmon. He appointed a campaign treasurer on Jan. 7.
  • BoiseDev reported in October that Hernandez is the former chief financial officer for Eastern Washington University.
  • Nicole Hyland — a self-described Christian, dedicated wife, loving mom and proud Caldwell resident — also has an active account in Idaho Sunshine to face Marmon in May.

Gov. Brad Little on Friday appointed state Republican committee member Erin Bingham to fill Wendy Horman’s vacant House seat.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected by Governor Little to represent my Idaho Falls community at home and in the Idaho Legislature,” Bingham said in a news release from the governor’s office Friday evening.

Bingham’s appointment comes days ahead of a legislative session primed for drama — and fills only part of the void left by Horman’s departure. In addition to Horman’s former representation of District 32 House Seat B, she left an open seat on the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for crafting Idaho’s annual budget.

Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, on Monday announced he’ll fill Horman’s JFAC seat. Tanner said he’ll give up his spot as House assistant majority leader. And since Tanner already had a spot on JFAC, House leadership must fill his former committee seat.

Bonneville County Republicans addressed their part of the shakeup Tuesday with three names for Little’s consideration to replace Horman. The other two contenders:

• William Athay, third vice chair for the Bonneville Republicans
• Stephanie Taylor-Thompson, a member of the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism

Bingham is the chief financial officer of Bingham Ventures, a family-operated development organization, where she supports financial management and community-minded development.

Gov. Brad Little hasn’t officially announced another run for office, but his growing campaign war chest leaves little room for questions.

The governor recently passed $1 million — more than all state legislative candidates combined, according to Idaho campaign finance website Idaho Sunshine.

Just one other gubernatorial candidate has reported raising money. Democrat Terri Pickens has $23,000 to Little’s $1.1 million. 

A driver of Little’s trove: the Idaho business community. The Idaho Automobile Dealers Association, the Idaho Association of Realtors and the Idaho Association of Bankers each floated Little maxed-out $10,000 donations.

All Pickens’ donations come from individuals.

Three Republicans with eyes on Little’s office have filed financial forms with the secretary of state, a precursor to running for office, but none have recorded fundraising. Jordan Chirat of Meridian, Lisa Marie of Boise and Justin Plante of Kimberly start with a massive fundraising deficit against Little.

Critchfield and some lawmakers rack up dollars

Business funds are flowing to other closely watched candidates. State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield announced her run for a second term Wednesday. Her fundraising tally to date: $71,999.10, including a $5,000 contribution from Micron Technology.

Critchfield has no primary challenger yet, but Idaho Democrats say they’ll prioritize a state superintendent race for November.

Meanwhile, the state’s campaign finance portal lists 174 incumbents and challengers vying for 105 seats in the state House and Senate, but races won’t be set until the Feb. 23-27 filing period ends.

And the money is heating up, with legislative candidates raising a combined $917,000. Here are the top 10 fundraisers in the Legislature, as of Jan. 6:

1. House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star: $48,050
2. Assistant Minority Leader Steve Berch, D-Boise: $47,000
3. Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert: $43,000
4. Sen. C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle: $39,000
5. Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Nampa: $35,100
6. Rep. John Shirts, R-Wesier: $33,000
7. Sen. Treg Bernt, R-Meridian: $31,000
8. Sen. Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs: $24,750
9. Sen. Camille Blaylock, R-Caldwell: $23,000
10. Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon:  $21,250

Visit Idaho Sunshine to check the latest on campaign fundraising and spending.

Watch for ongoing updates on election money race on the Ballot Beat blog.