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November 3 General election
We'll be voting for Federal, State, County, and Legislative offices as well as Ballot measures, Initiatives, and Levies and Bonds
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November 3, 2026 - Voter's Guide
Below are the names, websites, Facebook pages of the candidates in contested races that will be on your ballot. (We haven't include uncontested races here.)
For the Congressional and State candidates we include a two-sentence description of their priorities. For more information about how we came up with the two-sentence descriptions, see the article we wrote about our Voter's Guide: caldwellperspective.com/home/f/whats-in-the-voters-guide
For the Legislative and County candidates we sent them a questionnaire and you can see the answers they submitted without edits below.
I have put the races in the order they will be on your ballot.
Please write to advertising@caldwellperspective.com if you see something missing or have suggestions for this page.
All of your questions about the election can be answered at the Secretary of State's website: voteidaho.gov.
Congressional Offices
US Senate
Todd Achilles, Independent
Tech Professional, College-level Public Policy Teacher
Achilles supports term limits for Congress; reducing the national debt; reducing healthcare costs through increased competition and transparency; protecting public lands, gun rights, and public education; and strengthening US borders. Achilles opposes corporate money in politics, government intrusion into private lives, and endless wars.
Matt Loesby, Libertarian Party
facebook.com/people/Matt-Loesby-for-Idaho/61557763598681
Video Game Developer
Loesby supports reduced immigration, updated birthright citizenship law, and decentralized government on social issues. Loesby opposes the Federal Reserve; the drug war; intelligence agencies such as the CIA, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security; a publicly-owned education system; and civil rights.
Jim Risch, Republican Party
US Senator
Risch supports Idaho’s public lands; cutting taxes and improving domestic supply chains; cutting red tape for small businesses; reducing regulations on farmers; securing the US-Mexico border; protecting gun rights; and strengthening America’s nuclear energy infrastructure.
Natalie M Fleming, Independent
Tech professional, Single mom
Fleming supports the Constitutional limits on government, small business and local supply chains, immigration reform, shifting to local food and energy supplies, protecting public lands, veterans and first responders, and a Digital Bill of Rights. Fleming opposes corporate landlords, corporate money in government, and mass surveillance.
US Representative District 1
Brendan J Gomez, Constitution Party
Regal Theater Staff
No information available.
Russ Fulcher, Republican Party
US Representative
Fulcher supports securing the US-Mexico border with a border wall, protecting Idaho’s dams, protecting gun rights, and a constitutional amendment for a balanced Federal budget. Fulcher opposes abortion and Federal control of Idaho’s public lands.
Kaylee Peterson, Democratic Party
facebook.com/kayleeforcongress
Peterson supports term limits for Congress, increased government oversight, tax cuts for the middle class, protecting public lands, and overhauling the healthcare system. Peterson opposes corporate tax breaks and subsidies, dark money in elections, and public money for private education.
Independent
Sarah Zabel, Independent
Retired Airforce Major General
Zabel supports preserving Social Security, reducing the national debt, tackling cost growth throughout health care, reasonable immigration reform, and small businesses. Zabel opposes broad tariffs, selling public lands to private developers, and committing military forces to extended combat operations without Congressional authorization.
State Offices
Governor
Paul Sand, Libertarian Party
Software engineer
Sand supports decentralizing government by transferring many of the responsibilities of the State to the counties. Sand opposes political parties, sending money and weapons to other countries, benefits for immigrants (legal or illegal), abortion, and encouraging growth.
Brad Little, Republican Party
facebook.com/bradlittleforidaho
Governor, Owner of Little Land & Livestock
Little supports investments in education, tax cuts, securing the border, additional resources for police, scholarships for National Guard members, homes for veterans, and secure elections. He opposes State regulations, illegal immigration, tax increases, abortion and trans-women in women’s sports.
John R. Stegner, Independent
Judge, District (21yrs), Idaho Supreme Court (5yrs)
Stegner supports upholding the constitution and respecting individual rights, an education system that rewards hard work and leads to opportunity, improving access to healthcare, addressing healthcare workforce shortages, and strengthening communities by supporting families, local leaders, small businesses, and educators.
Terri Pickens, Democratic Party
Trial Attorney, Founder of Pickens Law, P.A.
Pickens supports economic growth by focusing on small businesses, education, a stable tax structure, and affordable health care. She opposes school vouchers, privatizing public lands, government overreach into civil and reproductive rights, illegal immigration, and demonizing immigrants.
Pro-Life, Constitution Party
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-Life_(politician)
prolife-idaho.com/about-pro-life
Organic Farmer
Pro-Life supports phasing out sales, income, and property taxes and phasing out State support for education, welfare, health and recreation. He opposes birth control, abortion, transgender activity, in-vitro fertilization, and vaccinations.
Lt. Governor
Scott Bedke, Republican Party
Lt. Governor, Cattle rancher
Bedke supports reducing government regulations, cutting taxes, supporting the police, protecting gun rights and pro-life policies, sustainable growth, balancing the demands of the State’s diverse water interests, and transportation improvements.
Eric Myricks, Democratic Party
facebook.com/p/Eric-Myricks-for-Idaho-61578713712165
Non-profit chair, Business owner
Myricks supports protecting the 2018 Medicaid expansion, increasing funding for public education, modernizing our water infrastructure, supporting first responders, responsible growth that pays for itself, fair and safe immigration policies, and women's right to reproductive care.
Attorney General
Lori Hickman, Democratic Party
Attorney
Hickman supports strengthening efforts to combat fraud, abuse, and AI scams; preserving women’s access to safe healthcare; keeping Idaho’s waters under Idaho’s control; defending public education; safeguarding our elections; and providing adequate funding for the entire justice system. Hickman opposes privatizing public lands.
Raul R Labrador, Republican Party
Attorney General, Attorney
Labrador supports Idaho’s school voucher system, the rights of gun owners, and making Idaho safer for kids by investigating and jailing child predators. Labrador opposes abortion, trans-women in women’s sports, school indoctrination, and illegal immigration.
Secretary of State
Shawn Keenan, Democratic Party
Mortgage Broker
No information available.
Phil McGrane, Republican Party
mcgraneforidaho.com, facebook.com/mcgraneforidaho
Secretary of State
McGrane supports working with county clerks to strengthen training for election officials, improve election procedures, expand voter registration outreach, and confirm election accuracy through audits and recounts. McGrane also supports strengthening Idaho election law through voter ID protections and technologies for improved voter roll maintenance.
State Controller
Brandon D Woolf, Republican Party
State Controller
Woolf supports transparency around the State’s finances, keeping government lean and efficient, timely and accurate service to Idahoans, streamlining State technology services, modernizing financial systems, fiscal discipline, and accountability to the people.
Rakesh Mohan, Democratic Party
facebook.com/p/Rakesh-Mohan-for-State-Controller-61573285960097/
Former Director of the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations, Visiting Professor at BSU
Mohan supports fiscal responsibility, meaningful transparency, improved performance in state agencies, and true government accountability. Mohan opposes waste of your hard-earned tax dollars such as the recent IT implementation launched by the current State Controller that resulted in millions of dollars in cost overruns.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Becky Sundin Mitchell, Democratic Party
Educator
Sundin Mitchell supports modernizing the school funding formula, strengthening teacher support, investing in early literacy and targeted reading interventions, ensuring every student has access to behavioral and mental health treatment, and fully funding special education. Sundin Mitchell opposes school funding following political trends.
Debbie Critchfield, Republican Party
facebook.com/DebbieCritchfield
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Critchfield supports returning reading instruction to phonics; made financial and digital literacy graduation requirements; expanded technical education, career pathways, civics instruction grounded in patriotism and American principles; and keeps families at the center of education decision making.
Teresa Roundy, Constitution Party
facebook.com/reel/1040563018962168
Roundy supports safety for children from the variety of forms of trauma including human trafficking; making parents the ultimate authority in children’s development and focusing schools on objective learning; local, school district control; and expanding vocational, civic and practical real-world learning.
State Treasurer
Julie A Ellsworth, Republican Party
facebook.com/EllsworthForTreasurer
Idaho State Treasurer
Ellsworth supports increasing government transparency, reducing the property tax burden on local taxpayers, and honoring Idaho’s veterans. Ellsworth opposes undemocratic, woke efforts to implement non-financial or subjective criteria for measuring investment options and credit worthiness of legal businesses and individuals.
Kevin A Jones, Democratic Party
facebook.com/people/Jones-for-Idaho-Treasurer/61575321687585
Retired, Institutional Investment Manager
Jones supports evaluation of the State’s investment performance against appropriate benchmarks, objectives, and risk parameters; corrective action when investments are underperforming; public disclosure of investments and their performance; rigorous examination of options for servicing the State’s debt; and active protection of the taxpayer’s interests.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Legislative District 11 (most but not all of Caldwell)
To find your Legislative District go to: legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator
State Senator
Esther Ma, Constitution Party
Did not respond to our questionnaire.
Susan Counsil, Democratic Party
Why are you running for State Senate?
The statehouse badly needs balance. Over the last two decades, we have witnessed the injection of more and more ideology and religion into the legislative process to the detriment of good governance. I am running as a Democrat to help correct this trend.
What qualifies you to be a State Senator?
I am a 35 year resident of Idaho, the most recent 27 years here in Caldwell and I have learned a lot through observation. I grew up in a career military family and living in multiple states and countries widened my perspective and taught me tolerance from a young age.
I recently retired from a 40 year career as a health care provider where my registered nurse function required digging into root causes of complex medical and social problems and then working collaboratively toward solutions for affected individuals. I believe that this is a transferrable skill set.
What is the biggest issue Idaho is facing today and what solution would you support?
Budget cuts are currently being forced to accommodate last year's excessive tax cuts that were actually the culmination of 5 straight years of tax cutting. In an economy that is not in a recession, we are seeing the havoc caused by not allowing for enough revenue for the state government to fund core public services like our public schools, public safety, transportation and infrastructure.
The tax cuts last year that created the current budget trouble exceeded $400 million and, at a minimum, should be scaled back. It's astounding to read that this state has foregone $4 billion in tax revenue over the last 5 tax-cutting years, and yet cannot seem to find a way a way out of this fiscal problem without hobbling essential services.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
Post secondary education and Medicaid Expansion need to be properly funded and protected. We do not live in an agrarian homesteader society and young people need to be prepared for the world that they live in. Cutting higher education budgets and taking funds out of LAUNCH and Opportunity Scholarships is short sighted.
The people of Idaho made Medicaid Expansion possible after waiting for years for the legislature to act. This program is for folks who are not covered by employer insurance, who earn too much to qualify for original Medicaid and yet too little to benefit by Affordable Care Act programs. Yes, the Medicaid budget is large, but that is in line with an economy where the health industry is also growing.
Camille Blaylock, Republican Party
Why are you running for State Senate?
I’m running for re-election to the State Senate because I care deeply about our community and the future we’re building here. This is where my family lives, where my kids go to school, and where I want to see opportunity continue to grow.
Over the past term, I’ve worked to support responsible budgeting, protect taxpayers, and keep government focused on the basics. I’ve also spent a lot of time listening - to families, small business owners, and community leaders - to better understand what’s working and what’s not and how I can support where Caldwell is headed.
I’m running again to keep that work going, stay accessible to the people I represent, and make thoughtful, common-sense decisions that help our community thrive.
What qualifies you to be a State Senator?
I don’t believe you have to be a career politician to serve well in the State Senate.
I’ve spent my life working for myself and in the private sector, where results matter and decisions have real consequences. That, combined with being a mom to two school-age kids, has shaped how I serve - principled, practical, and focused on what actually works for families.
I try to bring a thoughtful, common-sense approach to each issue. I care deeply about this community, but I’m also results-driven and willing to ask hard questions and challenge the status quo. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and take that responsibility seriously.
What is the biggest issue Idaho is facing today and what solution would you support?
Growth is one of the biggest issues facing Idaho right now. While it brings opportunity, it also drives up the cost of living, increases property taxes, and puts pressure on our roads, services, and water. Growth should pay for growth, and we need to ensure government stays in its proper role - focused on essential priorities like public schools, infrastructure, and community safety.
I believe in being intentional about how we grow by supporting smart development, resisting reckless expansion, and protecting key resources like farmland. We should also continue pursuing meaningful property tax relief and work toward full grocery tax repeal. With the right approach, we can protect affordability while planning responsibly for the future.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
Two other issues that are important to me are government spending and transparency.
First, I believe we need a more disciplined approach to spending - understanding where every dollar is going and whether it’s actually achieving its intended goal. Just like in a household or business, it’s about prioritizing, being efficient, and using existing funds well. It’s hard to make the case for additional investments when confidence in current spending is low.
Second is transparency. Public trust in government is gone - radical transparency and swift accountability is the only way we rebuild it. People deserve to know how decisions are made and how their money is spent. Sunlight is a powerful tool for restoring confidence in our institutions.
State Representative Seat B
Joshua Preminger, Democratic Party
Why are you running for State Representative?
The people of my community deserve more than one option when it comes time to vote for who will represent them and fight for their interests.
What qualifies you to be a State Representative?
I was born and raised in Idaho and purchased my first home, started a family, and a small business right here in beautiful Caldwell. I know what challenges face the average member of our community. I received a BA in Philosophy and English Literature, with honors, from BSU proving I have cut my teeth as a critical thinker. My immediate family is composed of teachers and nurses, two pillars of our community that are increasingly being undercut by the policies of the current administrations. I know the issues that affect the life support systems for our community.
What is the biggest issue Idaho is facing today and what solution would you support?
We're doing the same thing and expecting different results. Idaho has changed dramatically in recent years and its traditionally conservative governance no longer provides the services that demonstrate that the public interest is paramount. The social safety net that once existed to support the under-privileged is being systemically dismantled. Nationally and within our community, public health has been spiraling downward, the middle class is disappearing and an elite class is increasingly responsible for legislation that makes the rich richer, the poor poorer, and widens the gap between the two.
We need responsible governance that holds the public good in top priority.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
We are the last in education nationwide. Our public schools are being strategically defunded through the charter school tax credit at the expense of the working people in this state. This credit benefits people who can already afford to send their children to private school while defunding the public school system that educates the vast majority of Idaho's children.
Medicare and medicaid are essential for the health of our community and need to receive appropriate funding. The state budget needs to account for them instead of creating loopholes for wealthy people to avoid paying the taxes that support them. These programs exist for the public good.
Debbie Geyer, Republican Party
Why are you running for State Representative?
I’m a proud Idaho native, raised in Caldwell. My husband, a retired Army Chaplain, gave us the chance to live and serve alongside other military families in different cities and even overseas. In 2001, we came back to Idaho, driven by fond childhood memories of this beautiful, politically conservative state. We wanted our son to grow up with the same upbringing and strong family values we cherish. I love Idaho and Caldwell and want to help ensure those values carry on for future generations.
What qualifies you to be a State Representative?
Over my 24 years of public service with the City of Caldwell, recently retired as City Clerk, I managed city records and budgets, facilitated public meetings, and worked with city staff and community members on special projects like restoring the historic Caldwell Train Depot. I also led the effort to place a veteran’s memorial monument at Canyon Hill Cemetery. In my City Council appointed position, I strived to promote transparency and fostered an open-door policy to help citizens address their concerns. As a conservative Republican, I will approach decisions with genuine care for the people of District 11. I feel that I can bring decades of hands-on experience to the Statehouse.
What is the biggest issue Idaho is facing today and what solution would you support?
With Idaho’s continued growth, ensuring the availability of infrastructure, particularly for managing water resources, has become a real challenge. This is particularly true with the state's reliance on agriculture and its strong ties to the state's economy. We must continue to look for ways to upgrade and improve efficiency thereby reducing waste. This can be done by strengthening collaboration efforts with local government and stakeholders. We must continue with searching for effective procedures for establishing new or revised water management strategies.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
Public safety should always be a priority, along with honoring our veterans and military families. I back the blue by supporting our police, firefighters, and EMS. As a military spouse, I’m committed to standing by and supporting our veterans and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. I believe in a transparent and accountable government that practices fiscal discipline when allocating public funds while staying attentive to the voices of constituents. Using a local, common-sense approach grounded in thorough research, review, and discussion is key to making smart decisions that serve the best interests of Idaho taxpayers.
County offices
County Commissioner Seat 1
Jeffrey A. Skinner, Independent
Why are you running for County Commissioner?
Canyon County is at a crossroads. We are the fastest-growing county in Idaho, yet our public safety infrastructure is falling behind after years of deferred maintenance. We face critical budget challenges after years of spending that outpaced sustainable revenue. We must commit to responsible growth, protecting prime agricultural land, water resources, and the rural character our residents deeply value. That is why I am running, as your neighbor, an Independent with years of experience in solving complex problems under pressure. I am committed to providing leadership that prioritizes people and good policy. Generational planning is not optional. It is a moral obligation, and will be a defining priority of my term as your next commissioner.
What qualifies you to be a County Commissioner?
I have a unique combination of academic expertise and real-world experience. My academic background includes a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Boise State University, where I researched Idaho municipal budgets and government efficiency. I've spent thirteen years serving in the Air National Guard, working in cybersecurity and as a military chaplain, supporting complex, high-stakes, multi-million-dollar operations at the executive level. My service has included deployments from the Pacific to the Middle East, but Canyon County has always been home. For years I’ve also served our neighbors as a hospice chaplain, walking alongside families during some of life's most difficult moments. I know how to listen, and I know how to lead.
What is the biggest issue Canyon County is facing today and what solution would you support?
The most expensive thing our county has ever done is to fail to secure funds for a new county jail. I am the only candidate willing to have honest conversations with voters about what it's costing us. Over 700 inmates, many with felony level offenses, are out on pre-trial release due to capacity issues in our aging county jail. Short-term fixes only compound the overall cost. Inevitably, we will pay a price, through the cost of a human tragedy, litigation, or with a federal court ruling mandating property tax increases, the terms, timeline, and price tag of a solution we didn't choose. Or, we self-govern. As your commissioner, I will bring serious solutions before the voters, securing adequate funding to build and operate a new county jail.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
I am dedicated to preserving the character of Canyon County, by protecting our prime Ag land and our water resources. This means working with citizens and community stakeholders to update our Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Maps. When new development threatens our valuable, irrigated Ag land, I will ensure residents are heard, and our quality of life is preserved. Going forward, new development must be in reasonable proximity to existing infrastructure and services. As your commissioner, I will work to create a water resources task force to protect and preserve water resources for existing residents and the next generation. Our Ag land and water resources are the backbone of Canyon County's heritage, economy, identity, and future.
Stewart Hyndman, Republican Party
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583643172088
Why are you running for County Commissioner?
I'm running because I want to serve the residents of this county and be their advocate. The current board has done many positive things: one being they ended last fiscal year with a net positive in the budget, spending less than they budgeted. I'm running to protect that discipline, build on it, and to make changes where we need to. Our county is one of the fastest-growing in Idaho, and the decisions we make today will shape the quality of life for decades to come. Residents need a commissioner who will get ahead of growth, not react to it after the fact. That's the only way to preserve our agricultural roots and create opportunities for our youth to stay in Canyon County.
What qualifies you to be a County Commissioner?
My background spans three areas critical to county government: agriculture, government service, and small business. I started in the livestock industry, worked as an extension agent and associate professor at the University of Idaho in Challis, and managed Warm Springs Ranch — Idaho's third-largest cow/calf operation. As Idaho's State Marketing Director, I negotiated trade deals across three continents and served on the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture's Special Committee on Agricultural Export. For nearly two decades I owned a Farmers Insurance agency in Nampa. I've also served on Canyon County's Impact Fee Committee. I believe my experience has prepared me to serve effectively as a County Commissioner.
What is the biggest issue Canyon County is facing today and what solution would you support?
Growth. Canyon County has experienced rapid growth and we must manage it responsibly, meaning it cannot outpace our services and infrastructure, and it cannot shift financial burdens onto existing homeowners. Development must pay its own way. As a member of Canyon County's Impact Fee Committee, I saw firsthand what happens when it doesn't. I also believe Canyon County's 2030 Comprehensive Plan needs serious revision. It was rushed through using outdated census data and no longer reflects the challenges we face. I will push to fix it. City impact areas also need scrutiny as they can become loopholes where growth escapes proper management.
What are two other issues that are important to you?
First, protecting agricultural land. I started in agriculture and I'm still a committed advocate for it. That acre of ground producing $10,000–$15,000 in revenue a year and once you put a house on it, it no longer produces anything except a residence. I also oppose the changes that have been proposed to Administrative Splits; the current rules protect our many rural residents and I will fight to keep them in place. Second, funding public safety, specifically the jail. The jail was built in 1991, and has had numerous issues over the past decade. The county recently approved $7.5 million for a new women's facility, but that is only the beginning. Our deputies need modern facilities so that our residents continue to be safe.
County Commissioner Seat 2
Brad Holton, Republican Party
Did not respond to our questionnaire.
Brian Stroops, Democratic Party
No information available.
Did not respond to our questionnaire.
Election Information
Secretary of State and Canyon County Elections Office
The best sources for election information are:
- The Secretary of State: voteidaho.gov
- The Canyon County Elections Office: elections.canyoncounty.id.gov
Voting Options
Election Day Voting - November 3rd, 8am-8pm, find your polling location here: Secretary of State, Your Voter Record.
Early In-Person Voting, Monday through Friday 8am- 5pm from Oct 19th - Oct 30th.
The Canyon County Elections Office, 5815 Graye Ln. Caldwell, ID 83607
Nampa City Hall – 411 3rd St. S. Nampa, ID 83651
Voting by Mail - to sign up to Vote by Mail, go here: Secretary of State, Absentee Voting
September 18th - Mail-in Ballots start being mailed
The Caldwell Scrapbook - The Caldwell Perspective
Mailing: PO Box 922, Caldwell, ID 83606, US
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