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Kelly Anthon

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Kelly Anthon
Republican Party
Candidate, Idaho State Senate District 27
Idaho State Senate District 27
Tenure
2015 - Present
Term ends
2026
Years in position
11
Compensation
Base salary
$25,000/year
Per diem
For legislators residing within 50 miles of the Capitol: $86/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the Capitol: $253/day.
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Next election
May 19, 2026
Contact
Official website
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Personal Facebook
Personal X
Personal Instagram
Personal LinkedIn

Kelly Anthon (Republican Party) is a member of the Idaho State Senate, representing District 27. He assumed office in 2015. His current term ends on December 1, 2026.

Anthon was elected president pro tempore of the Idaho state Senate in 2024.[1] He was previously elected majority leader in 2020 and re-elected in 2022.[2][3]

Anthon earned his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law. Before entering politics, he worked as a partner with the firm Robinson, Anthon & Tribe, where he focused on municipal law, debt restructuring, and large business reorganization. Anthon also worked as the appointed city attorney for the cities of Burley, Rupert, Acequia, and Minidoka. Anthon stopped practicing law to take the position of city administrator in Rupert.[3]

Gov. Butch Otter (R) appointed Anthon to the Senate in 2015 to fill a vacancy. He was re-elected unopposed in 2016, 2018, and 2020 and faced an independent challenger he defeated 89%-11% in 2022. He was re-elected unopposed again in 2024.

In a 2022 interview with EastIdahoNews.com, Anthon outlined his approach in the legislature: "Professionally, my work in building and protecting Idaho’s rural communities has been very rewarding. As Idaho’s more urban centers continue to grow, I try to be an effective voice in Boise for the small towns, rural communities, and farming and ranching operations that have built our state."[4]

Anton told EastIdahoNews.com the reason he was a Republican was, "I support the party’s advocacy for low taxes, conservative spending, and the ‘lightest touch’ of government involvement in our lives. I stand with the Republican Party in support of religious liberty, the right to keep and bear arms and the rule of law (including the securing of our national borders). I also support the Republican ideals relating to the separation of federal and state governmental powers and protecting Idaho’s state sovereignty as outlined in the U.S. Constitution."[4]

Biography

Senator Anthon was raised in Declo, Idaho. He earned his law degree from the University of Idaho's College of Law. Anthon's professional experience includes practicing law at Robinson, Anthon & Tribe; serving as city attorney for the cities of Burley, Rupert, Acequia, and Minidoka; and working as city administrator for the city of Rupert. He served as president of the Minidoka Healthcare Foundation, executive member of the Idaho Municipal Attorney Association, and on the board of the Region IV Development Corporation, among other community leadership positions.[5]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Anthon was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Anthon was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Anthon was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Anthon was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Idaho committee assignments, 2017
• Commerce and Human Resources
• Health and Welfare
• Judiciary and Rules
• Change in Employee Compensation
• Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment


Elections

2026

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 27

Margo Saunders is running in the Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on May 19, 2026.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Margo Saunders

There are no incumbents in this race.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon is running in the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on May 19, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

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Endorsements

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2024

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon won election in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 27 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon (R)
 
100.0
 
17,628

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,628
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon
 
100.0
 
5,910

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,910
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Anthon in this election.

2022

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon defeated Bill Drury in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 27 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon (R)
 
89.0
 
10,650
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Bill Drury (Independent)
 
11.0
 
1,312

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,962
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon defeated Jeanie Hakes in the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon
 
73.8
 
6,212
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jeanie Hakes
 
26.2
 
2,203

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,415
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon won election in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 27 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon (R)
 
100.0
 
15,832

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 15,832
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon
 
100.0
 
5,133

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,133
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Idaho State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon won election in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 27 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon (R)
 
100.0
 
10,291

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 10,291
Candidate Connection = 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 State Senate District 27

Incumbent Kelly Anthon advanced from the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 27 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon
 
100.0
 
5,228

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 5,228
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Idaho State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent Kelly Anthon ran unopposed in the Idaho State Senate District 27 general election.[6][7]

Idaho State Senate, District 27 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kelly Anthon Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 13,259
Total Votes 13,259
Source: Idaho Secretary of State



Incumbent Kelly Anthon ran unopposed in the Idaho State Senate District 27 Republican primary.[8][9]

Idaho State Senate District 27, Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kelly Anthon Incumbent (unopposed)


Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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2024

Kelly Anthon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Kelly Anthon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Kelly Anthon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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.

Kelly Anthon campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024Idaho State Senate District 27Won general$73,275 $72,964
2022Idaho State Senate District 27Won general$115,900 $97,260
2020Idaho State Senate District 27Won general$49,724 N/A**
2018Idaho State Senate District 27Won general$25,798 N/A**
2016Idaho State Senate, District 27Won $16,321 N/A**
Grand total$281,017 $170,224
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Idaho

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2025.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Idaho State Legislature in 2015.

See also

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External links

Candidate

Idaho State Senate District 27
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    Officeholder

    Idaho State Senate District 27
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Idaho Capital Sun, "State Sen. Kelly Anthon named to top Idaho Senate leadership post," December 5, 2024
    2. ↑ Idaho Legislature, "Senate Leadership," accessed August 28, 2024
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anthon's 2022 campaign website, "About Kelly," accessed August 28, 2024
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 EastIdahoNews.com, Incumbent Kelly Anthon challenged by Bill Drury in race for Idaho State Senate in District 27," November 2, 2022
    5. ↑ "Idaho Legislature", "Sen. Kelly Anthon," accessed March 16, 2020
    6. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "General election candidate list," accessed August 16, 2016
    7. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Nov 08, 2016 General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2016
    8. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Declaration for March 11, 2016, primary," accessed March 11, 2016
    9. ↑ Idaho Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 17, 2016

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