Idaho could technically swap out its entire executive branch this November, but political reality suggests a much quieter outcome on Election Day. All seven state constitutional officers, running from the governor’s seat down to the state treasurer, are asking voters for another four-year term. Every single incumbent is a Republican in a state where GOP voters outnumber Democrats and independents nearly two to one, making the party a heavy favorite across the board. Yet, every single official has at least one challenger standing in the way.
Brad Little Faces Four Challengers for Governor
Republican Gov. Brad Little is vying for a third term against four challengers. Terri Pickens, a Democrat, and independent John Stegner pose the biggest threat to the incumbent Little, who handily won reelection in 2022. Rounding out the gubernatorial ballot are Paul Sand of the Libertarian Party and perennial candidate Pro-Life, a person formerly known as Marvin Richardson, representing the Constitution Party.
Little has largely kept a low profile this campaign cycle, choosing to stand on his official record rather than debate. In two terms, he has championed significant investments in college and K-12 education, including Idaho Launch, a $1.5 billion school facilities funding package, and steady increases in teacher pay. At the same time, his administration opened the door to taxpayer subsidies for private education and signed several culture-war bills aimed at classroom politics. Both Pickens, an attorney, and Stegner, a former Idaho Supreme Court justice, have made overturning the state’s private school choice program a central campaign promise, with Pickens suggesting outright defunding and Stegner proposing a fresh court challenge.
Debbie Critchfield Debates Rivals for State Superintendent
While the governor’s race features a familiar incumbent avoiding the debate stage, the contest for state superintendent of public instruction has played out quite differently. Republican incumbent Debbie Critchfield faces two challengers: Democrat Becky Sundin Mitchell and Constitution Party candidate Teresa Roundy. This proved to be the most engaging statewide contest this cycle and the only race featuring actual debates.
Critchfield has pointed to her first-term efforts to improve literacy, expand career-technical training opportunities, and close a funding gap for special education. Sundin Mitchell, a middle school teacher, has sharply criticized Republican leaders for subsidizing private education while failing to fully fund public schools. Meanwhile, Roundy has run primarily on reforming the education system with a focus on child safety and parental rights. On the fundraising front, Critchfield ran unopposed in the GOP primary and has far outpaced her opponents by raking in more than $175,000, compared to Sundin Mitchell raising less than $25,000 and Roundy raising nothing.
Down-Ballot Constitutional Offices
Beyond the executive suite, the remaining state constitutional offices feature a mix of high-profile rematches and legislative veterans seeking fresh terms. In the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican Scott Bedke is vying for a second term as second-in-line to the governor and president of the Idaho Senate. Bedke, who served as the longtime speaker of the House before taking office in 2023, faces Eric Myricks, an entrepreneur from Nampa and a self-described moderate Democrat.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador is also hoping for a second term, touting his office’s defense of laws protecting women’s sports and expanding educational freedom. His challenger is Lori Hickman, a Democrat who secured endorsements from two former Republican attorneys general—including Labrador’s former opponent Lawrence Wasden and his chief critic Jim Jones—along with more than 50 former deputy attorneys general.
The race for secretary of state is a rematch from 2022, featuring Republican incumbent Phil McGrane and Democratic challenger Shawn Keenan, a mortgage broker and loan officer from Coeur d’Alene. McGrane won the 2022 contest with more than 72% of the vote.
In the office of the state controller, Brandon Woolf is running for another four years. Woolf has held the position since 2012, making him Idaho’s longest-serving constitutional officer. His challenger is Rakesh Mohan, a Democrat and economist who spent years as a Statehouse staple directing the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations before retiring from the nonpartisan legislative research office in 2024. Managing the state’s assets, Republican Julie Ellsworth seeks her third term as state treasurer, a role she has held since 2019. She faces Kevin A. Jones, a certified investment portfolio manager and financial analyst from Boise running as a Democrat.
Congressional Delegations Facing Challengers
Voters will also decide three of Idaho’s four congressional seats. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo’s seat is secure until his term expires in 2028, but U.S. Sen. Jim Risch is up for reelection alongside U.S. House Representatives Russ Fulcher in District 1 and Mike Simpson in District 2.
Sen. Risch faces independent candidates Todd Achilles and Natalie Fleming, alongside Libertarian Matt Loesby. In the First Congressional District, Republican incumbent Fulcher is challenged by Democrat Kaylee Peterson, Constitution Party candidate Brendan J. Gomez, and independent Sarah Zabel. In the Second Congressional District, Republican Simpson faces Democrat Ellie Gilbreath, Libertarian Will Johanson, and independents Emre Houser and Tripp Charles Hutchinson. Detailed voter guides for these federal contests are maintained by the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide.
With Republican dominance firmly established across voter registration rolls, the open question remains whether insurgent campaigns from Democrats, independents, and third parties can crack the GOP stronghold in down-ballot margins, or if the incumbent slate will cruise unchallenged to another four-year mandate.
