Idaho voters in three swing districts – District 15 in west Boise, District 26 in central Idaho, and District 29 in Pocatello – will decide the state’s legislative balance this fall. Over the past month EdNews profiled each race, highlighting fresh candidates and the issues that matter most to families and communities.
District 15 – West Boise Senate seat
Republican Sen. Codi Galloway is not seeking re‑election. The open seat pits Democrat Nancy Gregory, a former 24‑year Boise School District trustee, against Republican Desi Burbank, a mother of six and Idaho PTA secretary. Gregory says the Legislature must become more responsible, transparent and predictable. Burbank says she will champion parental‑rights and ensure schools respect families.
District 15 – House race
Four‑term Democrat Steve Berch faces Republican Steve Keyser, a retired police officer and father of state Sen. Josh Keyser. Berch has raised $250,165 this cycle, far outpacing Keyser’s $45,770, and often opposes the Republican supermajority. Keyser argues Berch is a tax‑and‑spend liberal and promises to bring a conservative perspective to the House.
District 26 – Jerome County
Incumbent Rep. Mike Pohanka (R‑Jerome) confronts Democrat Anita Janis and independent Christian conservative Bella Schiffler. Schiffler, who describes herself as opposed to “woke ideology,” even suggested eliminating women’s right to vote if it would bring the country closer to God – a statement that has drawn sharp criticism.
District 26 – House seat open
Rep. Jack Nelsen is not running again. The race features Republican Lyle Johnstone, chair of the Magic Valley Liberty Alliance, and Democrat Kevin Marsh, a retired history professor. Johnstone, a hard‑line conservative, co‑founded a nonprofit that named Nelsen “RINO of the Year.” Marsh says he will consider multiple perspectives before voting.
District 29 – Pocatello
Democrat Mary Shea, a 27‑year attorney, challenges Republican Rep. Dustin Manwaring for a third time. Manwaring won the 2024 race by 10.4 points, but Shea points to a new abortion‑related initiative on the ballot and a Republican supermajority she says has steered the state in the wrong direction. Manwaring serves on the budget‑setting committee and has worked to address Idaho’s physician shortage.
District 29 – House race
Republican Jennifer Miles, a social worker who defeated Rep. Tanya Burgoyne in the May primary, will meet Democrat Nate Roberts, a union electrician and former officeholder. Miles was chosen by GOP primary voters as the more moderate option, raising the question of whether general‑electorate dissatisfaction could flip the seat.
Additional contests
In Meridian, Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog and House Majority Leader Jason Monks face challengers Karlie and Amanda Easley. The Easleys cite the 2025 $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit, co‑sponsored by Den Hartog and Monks, as a key issue. The DNC chair, Ken Martin, has publicly supported the Easleys, highlighting the race’s national attention.
District 25, covering Twin Falls, has no incumbents. Republican businessman Casey Swensen runs with City Council members Grayson Stone and Cherie Vollmer, while Democrats Lane Startin, Marla Palmer and independent Liyah Babayan vie for the seats. Swensen emphasizes a coalition approach to effective lawmaking.
These races reflect Idaho’s evolving political landscape, where parental‑rights advocacy, education experience, and conservative values are front‑and‑center. Voters will decide whether new voices will reinforce the current Republican supermajority or introduce fresh balance to the state Legislature.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
