Jared Dawson

Jared Dawson

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

---

Democratic Party

Candidate, Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Kellogg High School

Bachelor's

University of Idaho, 2004

Graduate

Washington State University, 2006

Personal

Birthplace

Silverton, Idaho

Religion

Lutheran

Profession

Program manager

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jared Dawson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Idaho House of Representatives to represent District 8B. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.

Biography

Jared Dawson was born in Silverton, Idaho. He earned a high school diploma from Kellogg High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in 2004, and a graduate degree from Washington State University in 2006. Jared Dawson's career experience includes working as a program manager, working in manual labor, and teaching communication classes at Lewis-Clark State College.

Elections

2026

See also: Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Incumbent Faye Thompson, Jared Dawson, and Tony Ullrich are running in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Faye Thompson (R)
	Submit photo	Jared Dawson (D)
	Submit photo	Tony Ullrich (Constitution Party)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Faye Thompson defeated Jared Dawson and Tony Ullrich in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Faye Thompson (R)	67.9	16,546
	Submit photo	Jared Dawson (D)	27.5	6,702
	Submit photo	Tony Ullrich (Constitution Party)	4.6	1,111

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,359
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Jared Dawson advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Jared Dawson	100.0	784

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 784
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Faye Thompson defeated incumbent Megan C. Blanksma in the Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Faye Thompson	51.3	4,361
		Megan C. Blanksma	48.7	4,140

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,501
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Constitution primary election

Constitution primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Tony Ullrich advanced from the Constitution primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 8B on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tony Ullrich	100.0	30

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Dawson in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jared Dawson has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. If you are Jared Dawson, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 23,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve Ballotpedia - send us candidate contact info.

2024

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jared Dawson. I am a husband, father, and native Idahoan. I was born in Kellogg, grew up on a small farm up the river there, and currently reside in the mountains outside of Idaho City. I grew up hunting and fishing, and will pass along those traditions to my kids. I probably voted Republican more often than not in my earlier voting years; however, after watching the Idaho legislature, I saw that the Democrats were the ones that voted in ways that were consistent with my values and faith. I reached out to see how I could become involved, became the chair of the Boise County Democrats, and decided after the 2022 election that I would run for State Representative in 2024. I feel that I represent the values of rural Idahoans, regardless of party affiliation, and hope that most voters will take the opportunity to review and research my candidacy, and vote for someone that represents them.

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 became interested in entering the political arena because of education. I believe that our public schools should be fully funded, and allow our students to achieve the level of education that gives them a step up in life. I am opposed to vouchers and any other proposal that drains funds from our public school system.
• I support women's health. My wife and I welcomed our third child into the world at the end of 2023. Our baby arrived happy and healthy, but a high risk pregnancy, mixed with Idaho's current laws, could have led to a catastrophe for our family. My opponent is on record stating that she is against any exceptions for abortion, even for the life of the mother. My stance is that our current laws are too extreme, and we can find a common ground. I don't feel that the government should make a decision for my family on the worst day of our lives.
• I am interested in issues that affect our rural communities. I am on the executive committee of the Idaho Democratic Party Rural Caucus. We look at issues that impact our state, and particularly my District, which spans timber (Valley, Boise, Custer counties) to agriculture (Elmore county) and everything in-between. Water rights, rural child care, early childhood development, forest management - these are all real-world issues that have an effect on us, and I value these much more than the culture war issues that make the headlines.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, women's health, affordable healthcare, rural issues.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my parents. We probably disagree on political issues these days, but the values they instilled in me growing up have guided me to be the person I am, and the care and compassion for others is an example I can always follow.

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

I believe that honesty and integrity are the most important characteristics for an elected official. Elected officials are public servants, not entertainers, and should have a mindset that reflects that. I am all about transparency, and believe that is an integral characteristic that encompasses the position. We may not agree on every subject all of the time, but I will always let someone know where I stand and why, and be willing to engage in conversations that push and potentially alter my preconceived notions and stances on issues.

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

I believe that I am thoughtful, considerate, and possess the ability to think through issues critically and with care. I'm smart enough to understand that I'm not an expert in every issue, and can learn from others.

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

I think that elected officials owe their constituents transparency and accountability. Open communication, and the willingness to think clearly and critically about individual issues, and not necessarily strictly along party lines or according to whatever third-party pledge a legislator signed, should be afforded a high priority.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like my children to understand that they can make a difference in the world if they pursue things that they believe in, and sometimes small changes are just as important as broad, sweeping accomplishments.

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

I remember the Challenger explosion most vividly as an event from growing up.

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

My first job was bucking bales and hauling hay. I hired out to different farmers we bought hay from, usually a nickel a bale. My first "official" job was construction (mostly framing); I did it for seven years during college, most heavily during summer, winter and spring breaks.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Hobbit. I'll always have connection to it from childhood.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Green Lantern (my heart says Guy Gardner, but my head says Hal Jordan)

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

'Til the Voice Goes Out - Jason Devore

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I am a cancer survivor (20+ years ago), and that experience also helped shape me into the person that I am today.

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

I think a good working relationship between the two bodies, with mutual respect, is in everyone's best interest. That doesn't necessarily mean agreement, but a willingness to work together to solve problems.

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

Beneficial, yes, but not a requirement. I think in most avenues of life previous experience is generally beneficial. Even at a base level, such as understanding Roberts' rules and legislative formalities, help, but is definitely not required.

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

Yes. I think in any work relationship the job becomes easier when you build and maintain relationships. It opens the door to more robust conversations, and allows you to see where other people are coming from.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

In the Idaho legislature, I appreciate the critical thinking of several legislators, that take the time explore and discuss issues, even if its something that they might be opposed to along general party lines. Legislators like Steve Berch, Julie Yamamoto, Matt Bundy and Geoff Schroeder come to mind.

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

No.

Tell us your favorite joke.

What do you do with a blue monster? Cheer him up.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

I think blanket statements should be avoided; as a general rule yes, as it provides representation from all legislative districts, but there are certainly some actions that the Governor should be allowed to take as the executive branch.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would introduce legislation that allows rural school districts to access facility funding in a more equitable way; right now, our rural districts are at the bottom of the list.

What committees interest you?

Education, Health and Welfare, JFAC

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Yes. I don't know how much more I should elaborate, but I believe in transparency. People work hard for their money, and what the government spends should be accounted for. Now, expecting a budget to get into dollar-level specifics may not be feasible (e.g., school budgets that project into the future may not be able to provide costs of future items down to the cent, but rather a realistic projection), but an accounting should make clear how taxpayer money is spent and as publicly transparent as possible.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I am opposed to trying to limit the ability for citizens to add ballot initiatives, and would oppose any legislation that attempts to erode that ability brick-by-brick.

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.

---

Jared Dawson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Idaho House of Representatives District 8B	Lost general	$6,250	$5,009
Grand total			$6,250	$5,009
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

See also

2026 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Idaho House of Representatives District 8B

Website

Personal

Facebook

LinkedIn

Footnotes

[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

Mike Veile (R)

District 35B

Josh Wheeler (R)

Republican Party (61)

Democratic Party (9)