Letishia Silva

Letishia Silva

Democratic Party

Candidate, Idaho State Senate District 10

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Cascade Jr./Sr. High School

Personal

Birthplace

Pocatello, Idaho

Religion

Christian

Profession

Homemaker

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Twitter

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Letishia Silva (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Idaho State Senate to represent District 10. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Biography

Letishia Silva was born in Pocatello, Idaho. She earned a high school diploma from Cascade Jr./Sr. High School. Her career experience includes roles as a homemaker and an executive office administrator.

Elections

2026

See also: Idaho State Senate 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 State Senate District 10

Incumbent Tammy Nichols and Letishia Silva are running in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 10 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Tammy Nichols (R)
		Letishia Silva (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 10

Incumbent Tammy Nichols defeated Letishia Silva in the general election for Idaho State Senate District 10 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tammy Nichols (R)	80.7	26,443
		Letishia Silva (D)	19.3	6,342

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 32,785
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 10

Letishia Silva advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho State Senate District 10 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Letishia Silva	100.0	666

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 666
= 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 10

Incumbent Tammy Nichols defeated Lori Bishop in the Republican primary for Idaho State Senate District 10 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tammy Nichols	64.1	5,916
	Submit photo	Lori Bishop	35.9	3,312

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,228
= 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 Silva in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Letishia Silva has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Letishia Silva asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Letishia Silva, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask Letishia Silva to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing letishiaforidaho@gmail.com.

2024

Letishia Silva completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Silva'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.

A mother of four, and the wife of an amazing man. Baseball is a significant part of our lives: from watching our teams to playing the game throughout the year. Music, faith and reading provide solace when life gets overwhelming. You can’t have politics without principles and I am dedicated to promoting equality for everyone, regardless of color, race, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. A firm believer in the Golden Rule – TREAT people how you would want to be treated. It’s a simple principle, but one that I feel needs to be reminded of more often in today’s world.

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 recognize that investing in education is investing in our future. The rapid growth in our region has strained our public schools, requiring strategic measures to ensure quality education.  I will tirelessly advocate for our dedicated teachers, ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary to cultivate young minds.  
• I recognize that adequate and equitable healthcare is critical. Ensuring accessible and quality healthcare is crucial for the well-being of our communities. With dwindling healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, poses significant barriers for Idahoans.  I will advocate for improved infrastructure, telehealth services, and healthcare facilities to bridge the gap and ensure that every individual has the freedom to make informed health care decisions and have comprehensive access to healthcare.  
• Whether they’re union members or dedicated educators, law enforcement or healthcare professionals, the bedrock of our community deserves fair compensation and recognition. I am committed to advocating higher wages throughout the state of Idaho. Ensuring fair wages meet a national standard should be a standard. No more hostage pay. Overtime used to be an incentive, now it’s a necessity! Stealing time away from families and loved ones is unacceptable.  

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Education

Comprehensive Healthcare

Fair Wages

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

I am fortunate to have many incredible individuals and past leaders whom I admire. My parents effectively taught me the value of a strong work ethic, while my former leaders exemplified grace, integrity, humility, and assertiveness. Very grateful for the those examples.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

George W. Bush memoir, Decision Points. It's a good read. He has a swagger about him and his approach to leadership that I appreciate.

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

Integrity, humility and accountability.

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

I have little faith in the government or the State of Idaho when it comes to ethics and sound practices. My self-assurance, integrity and compassion to tackle the current issues while fostering connections to bridge existing gaps are important qualities I believe would contribute to the success of an officeholder.

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

I believe that judgment is often obscured by greed, ego, and pride, which affects the people of Idaho. This situation cannot continue, and it is essential for someone to step forward and address it. We need to foster understanding and develop better policies that benefit all taxpayers.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy of good governance.

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

Y2K, that was wild. I was 11 yrs old.

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

At the age of 14, I got a job at our local grocery store as a shelf stocker. It was a summer job.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.

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

Beth Dutton

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

Peanut Butter Jelly Time by Buckwheat Boyz ( Sorry in advance).

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

I struggle with the lack of common sense in todays world. Its stranger than fiction.

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

The intended purpose for governor and state legislature; is to create a collaborative environment where individuals work together and share the responsibility of enacting laws and governing the state while maintaining their specific roles. This system of checks and balances ensures that policies and responsibilities are feasible and well-balanced. That would be ideal.

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

The ideology of prioritizing feelings over truth and facts is concerning. I love data and evidence-based practices, which I believe could greatly benefit the state of Idaho. I'm no sure when Idaho transformed into a caricature of itself, but the conflict between being right instead of doing what is right is not the Idaho I remember growing up in, and it feels strange to observe but I believe it is a contributing factor that will lead to downfall, lawsuits and higher taxes.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why didn't the skeleton go to prom?
He had noBODY to go with!

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Idaho AFL-CIO
Run for Something

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Transparency in government operations and decision-making can rebuild trust and ensure that policies truly reflect the needs of the community. By fostering an environment where accountability is prioritized, we can gradually dismantle the barriers created by greed and ego. Change will require a collective effort. Every individual has a role to play, whether it’s through advocacy, education, or simply setting a positive example. Together, we can create a more equitable and harmonious society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

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

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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.

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Letishia Silva campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Idaho State Senate District 10	Lost general	$875	$345
Grand total			$875	$345
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

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Candidate

Idaho State Senate District 10

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Idaho State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Lori Den Hartog

Minority Leader:Melissa Wintrow

Senators

District 1

Jim Woodward (R)

District 2

Phil Hart (R)

District 3

Doug Okuniewicz (R)

District 4

Ben Toews (R)

District 5

Carl Bjerke (R)

District 6

Dan Foreman (R)

District 7

Cindy Carlson (R)

District 8

Christy Zito (R)

District 9

Brandon Shippy (R)

District 10

Tammy Nichols (R)

District 11

Camille Blaylock (R)

District 12

Ben Adams (R)

District 13

Brian Lenney (R)

District 14

C. Scott Grow (R)

District 15

Codi Galloway (R)

District 16

Alison Rabe (D)

District 17

Carrie Semmelroth (D)

District 18

Janie Ward-Engelking (D)

District 19

Melissa Wintrow (D)

District 20

Josh Keyser (R)

District 21

Treg Bernt (R)

District 22

Lori Den Hartog (R)

District 23

Todd Lakey (R)

District 24

Glenneda Zuiderveld (R)

District 25

Josh Kohl (R)

District 26

Ron Taylor (D)

District 27

Kelly Anthon (R)

District 28

Jim Guthrie (R)

District 29

James Ruchti (D)

District 30

Julie VanOrden (R)

District 31

Van Burtenshaw (R)

District 32

Kevin Cook (R)

District 33

David Lent (R)

District 34

Doug Ricks (R)

District 35

Mark Harris (R)

Republican Party (29)

Democratic Party (6)