Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

Republican Party primaries in Idaho, 2022

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png

U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • How to run for office
Flag of Idaho.png


2024
2020

Republican Party primaries, 2022

Idaho Republican Party.jpg

Primary Date
May 17, 2022

Federal elections
Republican primaries for U.S. House

State party
Republican Party of Idaho
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in Idaho on May 17, 2022.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Idaho, parties decide who may vote in their primaries. As of July 2025, the Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary, while the Republican Party only allows voters registered with its party to vote in its primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on Election Day.[1][2][3]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in Idaho, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)

The 2022 U.S. Senate elections in Idaho took place on November 8, 2022. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in Idaho, 2022 (May 17 Republican primaries)
The 2022 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Idaho took place on November 8, 2022. Voters elected two candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. To see a full list of candidates in the primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

State elections

State Senate

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2022
The Idaho State Senate was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2020, 86 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Idaho State Senate elections, 2022

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Jim Woodward (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngScott Herndon  Candidate Connection

District 2

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Jon Cantamessa
Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Hart
Bill Hasz

District 3

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDoug Okuniewicz  Candidate Connection

District 4

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Tara Malek
Green check mark transparent.pngBen Toews

Did not make the ballot:
Paul Amador 

District 5

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Peter Riggs (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngCarl Bjerke  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Vicki Null-Carey 

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Nelson (i)

Robert Blair (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngDan Foreman  Candidate Connection
Jen Seegmiller  Candidate Connection

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Hartley
District 7

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Carl G. Crabtree (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngCindy Carlson  Candidate Connection
Heather Rogers
Keith Stuffle

District 8

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Gary Freeman
Terry F. Gestrin
Jon Krueger
Green check mark transparent.pngGeoff Schroeder

District 9

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngAbby Lee (i)
Jim Rice (i)
Kayla Dunn  Candidate Connection
Jordan Marques

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Solomon  Candidate Connection

Scott Brock
Green check mark transparent.pngTammy Nichols  Candidate Connection

District 11

Green check mark transparent.pngToni Ferro  Candidate Connection

Greg Chaney
Green check mark transparent.pngChris Trakel  Candidate Connection

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngKurtis Berger
District 12

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBen Adams
Thomas Netzley

District 13

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Jeff C. Agenbroad (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Lenney  Candidate Connection

District 14

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngC. Scott Grow (i)
Steven Thayn (i)
Katie Donahue

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngKirsten Faith Richardson

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Imhoff
District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngRick Just  Candidate Connection

Fred S. Martin (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngCodi Galloway  Candidate Connection
Dorothy Greenzang

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Clendenon
District 16

Green check mark transparent.pngAlison Rabe

Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Mansfield  Candidate Connection

District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngCarrie Semmelroth (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBenjamin Chafetz  Candidate Connection

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngJanie Ward-Engelking (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDan Bridges  Candidate Connection

District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Wintrow (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBlair Moss  Candidate Connection

District 20

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngChuck Winder (i)
Rosa Martinez

Did not make the ballot:
Mark Johnson 
Ryan Spoon 

District 21

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTreg Bernt
Thad Butterworth  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Calvin Huit 

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngMonica McKinley
District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngPat Soulliere

Green check mark transparent.pngLori Den Hartog (i)

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngBrendan Gomez
District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngMik Lose

Did not make the ballot:
Shawn ODell 

Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Lakey (i)
Steve Allmer  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Martha Drake 

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJon Basabe
District 24

The Democratic primary was canceled.


James Patrick (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngGlenneda Zuiderveld

District 25

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngLinda Wright Hartgen

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Thompson  Candidate Connection
District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngRon Taylor  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngLaurie Lickley
Eric Parker

District 27

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKelly Anthon (i)
Jeanie Hakes

District 28

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJim Guthrie (i)
Tom Branson
Art da Rosa

District 29

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Ruchti

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Worley

District 30

Green check mark transparent.pngDave Archuleta

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie VanOrden (i)
Jerry Bingham  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Barry Johnson 

District 31

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngVan Burtenshaw (i)
Fran Bryson

District 32

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Cook (i)
Keith Newberry

District 33

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Lent (i)
Bryan Scholz  Candidate Connection

District 34

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDoug Ricks (i)

District 35

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMark Harris (i)
Doug Toomer


House of Representatives

See also: Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2022
The Idaho House of Representatives was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2020, 86 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2022

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1A

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Johnson

Spencer Hutchings  Candidate Connection
Adam Rorick  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Sauter
Travis Thompson  Candidate Connection
Cynthia Weiss

District 1B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSage Dixon (i)
Todd Engel

District 2A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngHeather Scott (i)

District 2B

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Stroschein  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDale Hawkins

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Luoma
District 3A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngVito Barbieri (i)

District 3B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJordan Redman  Candidate Connection
Rick Small

Did not make the ballot:
Tim Kastning 

District 4A

Green check mark transparent.pngMegan Dardis-Kunz

Jim Addis (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Alfieri

District 4B

Green check mark transparent.pngLarry Bieber

Paul Amador (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngElaine Price

Did not make the ballot:
Roger Garlock 

District 5A

Green check mark transparent.pngKristy Reed Johnson

Green check mark transparent.pngRon Mendive (i)
Cheri Zao  Candidate Connection

District 5B

Green check mark transparent.pngTeresa Borrenpohl

Green check mark transparent.pngTony Wisniewski (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Cheri Zao 

District 6A

Green check mark transparent.pngJamal Lyksett

Green check mark transparent.pngLori McCann (i)
Claudia Dalby

District 6B

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Gresback

Green check mark transparent.pngBrandon Mitchell (i)

District 7A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMike Kingsley (i)
Lynn Guyer  Candidate Connection

District 7B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCharlie Shepherd (i)

District 8A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew Bundy (i)
Rob Beiswenger

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Feil
District 8B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMegan C. Blanksma (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Paul Schepper 

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngTony Ullrich
District 9A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Ryan Kerby (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJacyn Gallagher  Candidate Connection

District 9B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJudy Boyle (i)
Scott Syme (i)

District 10A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMike Moyle (i)
Rachel Hazelip  Candidate Connection

District 10B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBruce Skaug (i)
Beverlee Furner
Coral Kenagy

District 11A

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Scoville

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Yamamoto (i)

District 11B

Green check mark transparent.pngMarisela Pesina

Did not make the ballot:
Toni Ferro 

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Allgood
Kent Marmon
Mike Miller  Candidate Connection

District 12A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Cornilles  Candidate Connection
Sebastian Griffin  Candidate Connection
Machele Hamilton

District 12B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJaron Crane
Jana Warner

District 13A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBrent Crane (i)

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngPetre Danaila  Candidate Connection
District 13B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Tara Barling
Roger L. Hunt  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngKenny Wroten

Did not make the ballot:
Ben Adams (i)
Cory Chappell 

District 14A

Green check mark transparent.pngCrystal Ivie  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTed Hill  Candidate Connection
Caleb Hoobery  Candidate Connection
Tracey Koellisch  Candidate Connection
Mike Olsen  Candidate Connection

District 14B

Green check mark transparent.pngShelley Brock  Candidate Connection

Gayann DeMordaunt (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJosh Tanner  Candidate Connection

District 15A

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Berch (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Keyser

Did not make the ballot:
Ruthie Bush 

District 15B

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Nafsinger

Green check mark transparent.pngDori Healey

Constitution Party

This primary was canceled.

Did not make the ballot:
Sarah Clendenon  (Constitution Party)

District 16A

Green check mark transparent.pngSoñia Galaviz

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Montoya

District 16B

Green check mark transparent.pngColin Nash (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJackie Davidson  Candidate Connection
Richard Shurtleff

District 17A

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn L. Gannon (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngApril Larson  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Mike Boswell 

District 17B

Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Chew (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Nourse

District 18A

Green check mark transparent.pngIlana Rubel (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMaryKate Johnson  Candidate Connection

District 18B

Green check mark transparent.pngBrooke Green (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMegan Conrad Landen

District 19A

Green check mark transparent.pngLauren Necochea (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Christian

Did not make the ballot:
Jim Feederle 

District 19B

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Mathias (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Faasau

District 20A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Palmer (i)
Gloria Urwin

District 20B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJames Holtzclaw (i)
Mike Hon

District 21A

Green check mark transparent.pngJosi Christensen

Domenico Gelsomino  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngJames Petzke  Candidate Connection
Tara Pugmire  Candidate Connection
Tyler Ricks

Constitution Party

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel S. Weston

Libertarian Party

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Long  Candidate Connection
District 21B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Brandon Dybdal
Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Ehlers  Candidate Connection
Caleb Pirc  Candidate Connection

District 22A

Green check mark transparent.pngNatalie MacLachlan  Candidate Connection

Greg Ferch (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Vander Woude (i)

District 22B

Green check mark transparent.pngDawn Pierce

Green check mark transparent.pngJason Monks (i)

District 23A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Durrant
Jason Knopp
Michael Law  Candidate Connection
Tammy Payne  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Tyson Garten 

District 23B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Chris Bruce
Green check mark transparent.pngTina Lambert  Candidate Connection
Shaun Laughlin  Candidate Connection
Lyman Winchester

Did not make the ballot:
Rick D. Youngblood (i)

District 24A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngChenele Dixon  Candidate Connection
Tori Orgain-Wakewood

District 24B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Creighton Knight  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Miller

Did not make the ballot:
Brian Tanner 

District 25A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngLance Clow (i)

District 25B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Rocky Ferrenburg
Green check mark transparent.pngGregory Lanting

District 26A

Green check mark transparent.pngNed Burns (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Pohanka

District 26B

Green check mark transparent.pngKarma Metzler Fitzgerald  Candidate Connection

Lyle Johnstone
Green check mark transparent.pngJack Nelsen

District 27A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDouglas T. Pickett
Carl Voigt

District 27B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Ryan Cook
Pat Field
Green check mark transparent.pngClay Handy
John Stokes
Kevin Williams

District 28A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Cheatum
Dawn L. Morrell

District 28B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDan Garner  Candidate Connection
R. Scott Workman

District 29A

Green check mark transparent.pngMary Shea

Green check mark transparent.pngDustin W. Manwaring (i)
S. Craig Yadon

District 29B

Green check mark transparent.pngNate Roberts  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
James Ruchti (i)

Greg Romriell
Green check mark transparent.pngJake Stevens  Candidate Connection

District 30A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Cannon (i)

District 30B

Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Oler

Green check mark transparent.pngJulianne Young (i)

District 31A

Green check mark transparent.pngConnie Delaney  Candidate Connection

Karey Hanks (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJerald Raymond

District 31B

Green check mark transparent.pngWayne Talmadge

Green check mark transparent.pngRod Furniss (i)
Darnell Shipp

District 32A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Nicholas Christiansen  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngStephanie Mickelsen

District 32B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngWendy Horman (i)

District 33A

Green check mark transparent.pngMiranda Marquit

Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Ehardt (i)
Jeff Thompson

District 33B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMarco Erickson (i)

District 34A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJon Weber (i)
Jason Drollinger

District 34B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Ronald Nate (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBritt Raybould

District 35A

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Andrus (i)
Jon Goode

District 35B

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Chad Christensen (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJosh Wheeler


State executive offices

See also: Idaho state executive official elections, 2022

Seven state executive offices were up for election in Idaho in 2022:

Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Treasurer
Controller
Superintendent of Public Instruction

To see a full list of candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Governor

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Lieutenant Governor

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

Attorney General

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Secretary of State

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Treasurer

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Controller

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Superintendent of Schools

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Primary election competitiveness

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2022

This section contains information about the primary election competitiveness of election in Idaho. For more information about this data, click here.


U.S. Senate competitiveness

U.S. House competitiveness

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Idaho in 2022. Information below was calculated on March 28, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

In 2022, nine candidates—two Democrats, six Republicans, and one Libertarian—filed to run for Idaho's two U.S. House districts. That's 4.5 candidates per district, less than the 5.0 candidates per district in 2020 and 9.0 in 2018.

Both incumbents filed for re-election: Reps. Russ Fulcher (R) in District 1 and Michael Simpson (R) in District 2. The only primary that drew more than one candidate was in District 2, where Simpson was set to face four challengers as of the candidate filing deadline. Of those four challengers, one was Bryan Smith, who Simpson defeated 62-38% in the 2014 Republican primary. According to Roll Call's Nathan Gonzales, Republicans won 27 of the 28 U.S. House elections between 1994 and 2022.[4] Walt Minnick (D) won election to District 1 in 2008 and lost to Raul Labrador (R) after serving one term.

State executive competitiveness

State legislative competitiveness

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in Idaho in 2022. Information below was calculated on March 29, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

More state legislative incumbents were set to face primary challenges in Idaho in 2022 than at any point since at least 2014 following the state's candidate filing deadline. Seventy-five incumbents filed for re-election in 2022, 61.3% of whom (46) entered contested primaries. From 2014 to 2020, the percentage of incumbents in contested primaries hovered at around half that rate ranging from 32 to 34%.

Of those 46 incumbents in contested primaries, there were 45 Republicans, and one Democrat: Rep. James Ruchti.

Redistricting was a partial cause of this increase. When states redraw district lines, they can change so that incumbents who previously represented one district find themselves living within the district lines of another. This can result in incumbents challenging other incumbents in contested primaries or general elections if they choose to seek re-election. 

Four incumbent vs. incumbent primaries were scheduled in 2022:

For the purposes of this analysis, all eight of these incumbents were considered incumbents in contested primaries.

Looking beyond incumbents in contested primaries, the total number of primaries also increased in 2022 to its highest level compared to previous cycles, driven entirely by an increase in Republican contests.

Other takeaways from Idaho's candidate filing deadline can be found below:

  • Of the 105 seats up for election, 32.3% were open, meaning no incumbent filed to run. This was the largest percentage of open seats since at least 2014. Newcomers are guaranteed to win open seats, meaning at least one-third of the Idaho State Legislature would be new to their seats in the 2023 legislative session.
  • Republicans filed to run for all 105 seats for the first time since at least 2014. Democrats filed to run for 46 seats, the lowest number in that same time span. This effectively guaranteed Republicans a majority of state legislative seats due to a lack of major party competition.
  • Overall, 259 major party candidates—212 Republicans and 47 Democrats—filed to run for the state legislature. This equals 2.5 candidates per seat, the largest figure since at least 2014.

Context of the 2022 elections

Idaho Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Thirty one years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

State party overview

Republican Party of Idaho

See also: Republican Party of Idaho

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Republican state party affiliates.


Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Idaho, parties decide who may vote in their primaries. As of July 2025, the Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary, while the Republican Party only allows voters registered with its party to vote in its primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on Election Day.[5][6][7]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Idaho, all polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. In some instances, polls may open at 7:00 a.m., at the discretion of the local clerk. Idaho is split between Mountain and Pacific time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[8]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Idaho, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Idaho county in which they are registering for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.[9][10]

Registration in advance of election day may be completed online, in person at the county clerk's office, or by mail. The deadline to register to vote online is the 11th day before the election. A registration application submitted by mail must be received by the 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day before the election. Voters may also register in-person at an early voting location or on Election Day.[9][11][12][13]

Idaho requires a photo ID and proof of residence to register to vote in person. According to the secretary of state's website, a valid photo ID is one of:[11]

  • Idaho Driver’s License
  • Idaho Identification Card
  • Passport or Federal ID
  • Tribal ID Card
  • Concealed Weapons License issued by a county sheriff in Idaho

A valid proof of residence is one of:[11]

  • Above photo ID with the correct address
  • Proof of insurance
  • Mortgage, lease, or rental agreement
  • Property tax assessment, bill
  • Utility bill (no cell bills)
  • Bank/credit card statement
  • Paystub/paycheck
  • Intake document to a care facility
  • Enrollment letter from an Idaho high school or university
  • Letter from a social service agency

A voter registering to vote by a mail application must provide their Idaho driver's license number or their social security number. If the voter is registering for the first time they must also include a copy of a photo ID and proof of residence. Eligible documents are listed above.[9]

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Idaho does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Idaho has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Online voter registration

Idaho allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Idaho law requires 30 days of residency in one of the state’s counties before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Idaho does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[14] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The page Voter Information Look-Up, run by the Idaho Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Early voting

Idaho permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting in Idaho varies by county, but may begin no earlier than the fourth Monday before Election Day.[15][13] To find dates and times in your county, check with your county elections office here.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Idaho. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. To vote absentee, an application must be received by election officials no later than the 11th day preceding the election.[16][17][18]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

No counties in Idaho are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Idaho with 59.3 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 27.5 percent. Independent candidate Evan McMullin received 6.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Idaho voted Republican 70 percent of the time and Democratic 30 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Idaho voted Republican all five times.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Idaho. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[19][20]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 4 out of 35 state House districts in Idaho with an average margin of victory of 13.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 4 out of 35 state House districts in Idaho with an average margin of victory of 17 points.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 31 out of 35 state House districts in Idaho with an average margin of victory of 38.6 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 31 out of 35 state House districts in Idaho with an average margin of victory of 39 points. Trump won three seats controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Idaho Secretary of State's Office, "Primary Elections in Idaho," accessed July 2, 2025
  2. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 2, 2024
  3. ACLU Idaho, "2024 Your Rights as an Idaho Voter," accessed July 2, 2025
  4. Roll Call, "Bleak streak for Idaho Democrats likely to continue," Feb. 28, 2022
  5. Idaho Secretary of State's Office, "Primary Elections in Idaho," accessed July 2, 2025
  6. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 2, 2024
  7. ACLU Idaho, "2024 Your Rights as an Idaho Voter," accessed July 2, 2025
  8. Idaho Statutes, "Section 34-1101," accessed July 2, 2025
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Idaho Secretary of State, "Idaho Voter Registration Form," accessed July 2, 2025
  10. Idaho Secretary of State, "Citizenship & Voting," accessed July 2, 2025
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Idaho Secretary of State - Vote Idaho, "Registering To Vote," accessed July 2, 2025
  12. Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes § 34-408," accessed June 26, 2025
  13. 13.0 13.1 Idaho Legislature, "2025 Legislation - House Bill 278," accessed June 26, 2025
  14. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  15. Idaho Legislature, "Idaho Statutes § 34-1012," accessed June 25, 2025
  16. Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Statutes 34-1001," accessed July 2, 2025
  17. Idaho State Legislature, "Idaho Statutes 34-1002," accessed July 2, 2025
  18. Ada County Elections, "Absentee Voting," accessed July 2, 2025
  19. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  20. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017