Cliff Hohman

Cliff Hohman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Idaho House of Representatives to represent District 13A. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Hohman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Cliff Hohman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned a high school diploma from Decatur Central High School and a bachelor's degree from Northland College in 1999. His career experience includes working as an IT specialist, fisheries research technician, public aquarist, warehouse picker/packer, forklift operator, and motel maid.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Incumbent Brent Crane defeated Cliff Hohman in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Brent Crane (R)	71.5	15,206
	Cliff Hohman (D)	28.5	6,073

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,279
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Cliff Hohman advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cliff Hohman	100.0	485

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 485
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Incumbent Brent Crane advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brent Crane	100.0	4,223

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,223
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hohman in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Cliff Hohman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hohman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a Nampa resident who got tired of not having a choice on the ballot more often than not. If there's only one candidate running, is that really democracy? What are we supposed to do if the elected official no longer represents the will of the people? Nampa deserves a choice, and I don't think the current legislature understands what Idahoans really care about.

I've worked in various capacities for federal, state, and local government agencies. I've worked for non-profits and private businesses. I've seen how they can work well. I've seen how they can work together. And I've seen how they can let people down.

Some people obviously like the toxic politics that are everywhere today, including in the Idaho Capitol. But I don't think most folks in Idaho really do. How does a bill attacking librarians help you pay the rent? Why do our legislators worry about who is using what bathroom, when we have schools that can't afford to fix a leaky roof?

I don't care about these culture wars. I want to listen to the people of District 13. I want to learn what their pain is. I want them to tell me what will help them the most in their lives. And I want to take that to the House, make their voices heard, and work to find practical solutions that we can all live with.

That's what democracy is supposed to be all about.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I want to help stop the spread of extremism in our politics. We don't need to go looking for enemies to hate. We need to find ways to work together. It's hard, and it's messy, but it's worth it. "Owning the libs" might feel good for a moment, but making Idaho a better place for you and your families will make you feel good for a long time to come.
I'm not here to beat my chest about whatever my pet project is. I'm not here to tell you that I'm right and you're wrong. We will sometimes disagree on things. That's fine. Sometimes my job will be to find a way to do what the people of Nampa want, even if it's not what I would choose. Sometimes my job will be to help folks understand why one choice might be better than another. Sometimes we're going to have to have a conversation to figure it out. And that's the way it's supposed to be. If we respect each other, we'll find a way forward together.
I have an obligation to make Idaho and Nampa a better place, however I can manage to do it. When I was a kid in Boy Scouts, we were taught to always leave a campsite better off than we found it. Not just to clean up our own mess, but to pick up trash that was already there when we arrived. Maybe leave some firewood for the next group. Make sure that their experience is even better than yours was. Eventually, I realized that was a pretty good way to approach your whole life. We only get so much time on this Earth. I want to make sure I leave this place better off than how I found it.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing costs first and foremost. This is a very complicated issue to try to tackle, but if we can find a way, it will have a bigger impact on Idahoan's lives than almost anything else.

Education. We need to stop demonizing teachers, librarians, and kids who don't fit a traditional mold. Instead, we need to fund and support our public schools, so we can attract and keep quality staff and do right by our children.

Health care. Why are we attacking Medicaid? Why are we making it harder or impossible for women to get reproductive health care? Everyone needs access to quality health care. Politicians need to stay out of the doctor's office.

There are many other issues, but these are the ones I think I share with most Idahoans.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

We have to listen to the voters. We have to have conversations with them and try to understand them. Everyone, not just the people we think will donate to our campaigns. My personal needs and worries might not be the same as theirs. I have to know what theirs are if I'm going to serve them.

At the same time, sometimes elected officials tackle complicated topics. Sometimes we learn things that most people are simply too busy to worry about, and that can affect what we think the best policy might be. In that case, it's our job to try to teach people about what we've learned, so they can understand our positions and why we've arrived where we did. I don't want to tell you to just trust that I'm right. I want to convince you. And maybe you'll persuade me that there's actually a better way after all.

Finally, respect. For the people, and other lawmakers. Especially those we disagree with. We have witnessed some truly appalling behavior in Idaho politics over the years. Usually only by a few people, but too often, the folks around them have done nothing to stop them. Respect means not only treating others decently, but also holding our colleagues to account when they disrespect others. We can't stand by and watch someone be a bully. We have to stand up and tell them to knock it off, that they're out of line. And if that ruffles a few feathers, that's fine.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm a quick learner, and when I take on a task, I focus on it until I'm an expert. I also try to listen to people. If I talk to you, you know what I want to do. But if I listen to you, I know what *needs* to be done.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Our responsibility is ultimately to serve the people. This is much more complicated than it sounds, however. We rarely all agree on everything. Not everyone has the time to sort through all the issues the legislature is faced with. There may not be a good solution to a problem. Our job as legislators is to try to bridge those gaps. To listen to the people and take their advice when we can. To help people see how an issue affects their lives when it's not always obvious. And to humbly admit when we make a mistake, because we are going to. The only way to avoid that is to do nothing, and that's sometimes the biggest mistake of all.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember being about 8 years old when my teacher rolled in a big television set we had on a cart so that we could watch the breaking news about the Space Shuttle Challenger being destroyed with all hands lost. Like a lot of kids, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up, so it was shocking to see what was happening. I didn't know a tragedy like that was possible until then.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first real job was a summer internship with the Indiana state government. We spent the summer driving around Indiana, taking measurements and water samples from streams and rivers all over the central and southern part of the state. I saw so much of the state, from the corn fields to the small towns to some beautiful woodlands, and I learned a lot about how people lived in those areas. It was my first taste of public service, and I loved it.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

It's the whole concept of checks and balances. Ideally, both the governor and the legislature try to serve the people, and they both keep the other from getting out of line. They both have some independence, but they both rely on the other as well. They shouldn't be enemies, but they shouldn't get too friendly either, even if they're all from the same party. After all, the governor is not their boss. The people are.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our rapid growth, which contributes to the more immediate challenge of housing costs. We need to be planning how to grow so we can do it intelligently and sustainably. A lot of people don't like that it's happening, but there's not much that's going to stop it. What we can do is to try to minimize the growing pains. That means long term planning for housing, transportation, even water use. We have the ability to exert control on our growth, and we should use it.

Bringing our politics back in line with ordinary citizens will also be important. We've gotten too far from what really matters to people. Many of our elected officials have allowed national talking points and TV talking heads to tell them what's important, instead of listening to the citizens. As long as there is a disconnect between what the people need and want, and what the government actually does, there will be problems.

Our changing climate will also likely prove challenging. Fire season is getting longer every year, and severe fires are getting more common. Snow pack and reservoir water levels are becoming less reliable. Heat waves may become a serious health issue. We need to plan for conditions we've never seen before, and we need to do it in a way that's fair to everyone.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think it certainly can be. That being said, there are many examples, both in Idaho and elsewhere, where newcomers have proven that they're better in touch with their communities and more willing to accept new solutions to old problems. A lot depends on the individual. Why are they interested in serving? Is it for the prestige, for the power, for opportunities to make money? Or is it because they saw a need that wasn't being met and they knew they could try to meet it? Are they willing to adapt to the changing times, or are they still legislating like it's 1985? Sometimes, these things can matter more than experience. Experience is one quality among many, and political experience is only one type of valuable experience that a person might have. The beautiful thing about our democracy is that anybody can run, and if they can show the people they are passionate about serving, they might even succeed.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I don't see how you can successfully legislate without it. Some people might be too difficult to be able to reasonably deal with. But hopefully, you can find some common ground with most of them. It might just be one specific bill, and you struggle to ever find agreement again. But that one bill could be important to a lot of people, so it's going to be worth it. We don't need to have sketchy deals in smoky offices, but we can work openly to show that we're all trying to operate in good faith, that we all share the goal of serving the community.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I don't foresee it. If I'm ever asked to, I may consider it, but it's not my goal. There's plenty of real and important work to be done in the State Legislature.

What committees interest you?

I think I'd bring an important voice to the Education Committee, given the way many politicians have decided it's a good idea to attack our teachers, librarians, students, and the very concept of public education.

My education and work history makes me well suited to both the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee and the Resources and Conservation Committee.

Ultimately, I'm flexible and always eager to learn, so I'd be happy to serve wherever I'm most needed.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I think they're both critical. Ultimately, the public has the right to see what's happening with our money, whether it's in an agency budget or on the campaign trail. We have an incredible responsibility to make a good faith effort to spend the public's money wisely, and in their own best interest. We will sometimes disagree on exactly what that means, but being transparent about it will help reassure people that we at least have good intentions.

Government accountability is part of what democracy is all about. The people are ultimately in control, and that's how it should be. When we mess up in government, we have an obligation to be open about it and to try to fix it. If we're not willing to do that, then there will be a price to pay on election day.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Cliff Hohman campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Idaho House of Representatives District 13A	Lost general	$6,234	$6,046
Grand total			$6,234	$6,046
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Candidate

Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 4, 2024

[show]

Current members of the Idaho House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Mike Moyle

Majority Leader:Jason Monks

Representatives

District 1A

Mark Sauter (R)

District 1B

Cornel Rasor (R)

District 2A

Heather Scott (R)

District 2B

Dale Hawkins (R)

District 3A

Vito Barbieri (R)

District 3B

Jordan Redman (R)

District 4A

Joe Alfieri (R)

District 4B

Elaine Price (R)

District 5A

Ron Mendive (R)

District 5B

Tony Wisniewski (R)

District 6A

Lori McCann (R)

District 6B

Brandon Mitchell (R)

District 7A

Kyle Harris (R)

District 7B

Charlie Shepherd (R)

District 8A

Rob Beiswenger (R)

District 8B

Faye Thompson (R)

District 9A

John Shirts (R)

District 9B

Judy Boyle (R)

District 10A

Mike Moyle (R)

District 10B

Bruce Skaug (R)

District 11A

Kent Marmon (R)

District 11B

Lucas Cayler (R)

District 12A

Jeff Cornilles (R)

District 12B

Jaron Crane (R)

District 13A

Brent Crane (R)

District 13B

Steve Tanner (R)

District 14A

Ted Hill (R)

District 14B

Josh Tanner (R)

District 15A

Steve Berch (D)

District 15B

Dori Healey (R)

District 16A

Soñia Galaviz (D)

District 16B

Annie Haws (D)

District 17A

John Gannon (D)

District 17B

Megan Egbert (D)

District 18A

Ilana Rubel (D)

District 18B

Brooke Green (D)

District 19A

Monica Church (D)

District 19B

Chris Mathias (D)

District 20A

Joe Palmer (R)

District 20B

James Holtzclaw (R)

District 21A

James Petzke (R)

District 21B

Jeff Ehlers (R)

District 22A

John Woude (R)

District 22B

Jason Monks (R)

District 23A

Chris Bruce (R)

District 23B

Shawn Dygert (R)

District 24A

Clint Hostetler (R)

District 24B

Steve Miller (R)

District 25A

Lance Clow (R)

District 25B

David Leavitt (R)

District 26A

Mike Pohanka (R)

District 26B

Jack Nelsen (R)

District 27A

Douglas Pickett (R)

District 27B

Clay Handy (R)

District 28A

Richard Cheatum (R)

District 28B

Dan Garner (R)

District 29A

Dustin Manwaring (R)

District 29B

Tanya Burgoyne (R)

District 30A

David Cannon (R)

District 30B

Ben Fuhriman (R)

District 31A

Jerald Raymond (R)

District 31B

Rod Furniss (R)

District 32A

Stephanie Mickelsen (R)

District 32B

Wendy Horman (R)

District 33A

Barbara Ehardt (R)

District 33B

Marco Erickson (R)

District 34A

Jon Weber (R)

District 34B

Britt Raybould (R)

District 35A

Vacant

District 35B

Josh Wheeler (R)

Republican Party (60)

Democratic Party (9)

Vacancies (1)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 4, 2024

[1]

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Cliff Hohman

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 13A

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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