Idaho voters will cast their ballots for the governor of the state and two seats in Congress when they go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Issues on voters’ minds in this mid-term election include high gasoline and diesel prices stemming from the U.S.’ conflict with Iran, higher food prices, tariffs placed on imported goods, and housing affordability. Another issue for Idahoans is public land; the Trump administration has suggested selling off some federal land in western states. All Idaho candidates are generally opposed to that effort, while maintaining that the federal government needs to better support staffing in federal public land agencies that was decimated by the DOGE cuts in 2025 led by Elon Musk.
Currently Republicans hold a 53-45 advantage in the Senate (with two independents) and a slim 218-214 majority in the House of Representatives, with two vacant seats and one independent. Democrats hope to flip enough seats nationwide to regain majorities in Congress.
At the top of the ballot are the federal races for U.S. Senate and U.S. representative for Idaho’s First congressional district. Republican incumbent Jim Risch is running for his fourth term in the U.S. Senate; his main challenger is independent Todd Achilles, a veteran and former representative in the Idaho Legislature. Independent Natalie M. Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby are also in the race. Achilles is considered to have the best chance to unseat Risch, but statewide polls, which have widely varied, mostly show Risch with a commanding 10- or more point lead.
For representative, Republican incumbent Russ Fulcher is running for his fifth term. He is being challenged by Democrat Kaylee Peterson, independent Sarah Zabel and Constitution candidate Brendan J. Gomez. Polls indicate a 20- or more point lead for Fulcher over Peterson.
Republican Brad Little is running for his third term as Governor. He is being challenged by Democratic lawyer Terri Pickens, independent and former Idaho Supreme Court justice John Stegner (see page 12 for interview with Stegner), Libertarian candidate Paul Sand, and the perennial anti-abortion candidate who goes by the name Pro-Life. A Democrat has not held the governor’s position for 30 years. The race for Lieutenant Governor is a head-to-head between incumbent Scott Bedke (R) and Democrat Eric Myricks.
For Secretary of State, the race pits Republican incumbent Phil McGrane against Democrat Shawn Keenan. The Secretary of State is responsible for administrating and regulating elections, registering businesses among other authorities such as notarization and liens.
The race for State Controller is between Republican incumbent Brandon D. Woolf and Democrat Rakesh Moran. The State Controller manages Idaho’s fiscal affairs. The position is not to be confused with the separate State Treasurer, who performs as Idaho’s head banker and head of investments. That race is contested between Republican incumbent Julie A. Ellsworth and Democrat Kevin A. Jones.
For Attorney General—the state’s chief legal officer—incumbent Raúl Labrador (R) is being challenged by Democrat Lori Hickman. (See page 12 for interview with Hickman.) Labrador is seeking his second term as attorney general, while this is Hickman’s first run for public office. She has said Labrador has “politicized” the attorney general’s office, while Labrador has countered that he is simply aggressive in enforcing the law.
Labrador served two terms in the Idaho legislature and four terms in Congress as a U.S. representative, and unsuccessfully challenged Little for the governor’s seat in 2018.
The last statewide office on the ballot is for Superintendent of Public Instruction, the head of the state Department of Education. Republican incumbent Debbie Critchfield faces off against Democrat and teacher Becky Sundin Mitchell and Constitution Party candidate Teresa Roundy.
David Galindo can be reached at [email protected]