Jerome, Idaho – Rep. Mike Pohanka, R‑Jerome, announced his bid for a second term in Idaho’s District 26 House Seat A. Pohanka, who narrowly defeated Democrat Ned Burns by 2.4 points in 2024, now faces a three‑way contest that includes Democrat Anita Janis, a veteran educator, and Bella Schiffler, an independent who describes herself as a Christian‑conservative.
Local Roots and Service
Pohanka emphasizes his deep ties to the district. He is a first‑generation American; his father escaped communist Czechoslovakia after World War II, studied plant genetics at Penn State, and settled in Twin Falls. Pohanka serves as a chaplain for the Idaho State Police, the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jerome City Police Department, providing death notifications to families in tragedy.
His hands‑on approach includes attending city‑council meetings across the district and delivering tangible assistance. When the mayor of Dietrich, a rural town of about 300 residents, requested a backhoe, Pohanka secured a free, used unit from the Idaho Transportation Department, a delivery covered by local station KMVT.
Legislative Record Focused on Safety and Accountability
In the legislature, Pohanka has championed public‑safety measures. He sponsored a bill that classifies driving more than 20 mph over the limit in active construction or school zones as reckless driving, a response to three recent incidents involving students in the Caldwell School District.
On education funding, Pohanka voted against the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit, arguing that it moves money away from public schools without sufficient accountability. He warned that the credit “asks little in return with really no meaningful reporting to taxpayers footing the bill.”
Campaign Dynamics
The district blends blue voters in Blaine County with red voters in Jerome and Lincoln counties, making it a swing area. Pohanka says he considers himself “colorblind,” focusing on serving constituents rather than partisan labels. He noted, “I have people coming up to me saying, ‘You know what? I’m a Democrat, and I’m voting for you because you are a person that cares and you’re doing the job.’”
Independent Bella Schiffler entered the race after interning for two Boise lawmakers. She argues that many self‑identified conservatives are not truly conservative and claims education has become “woke,” even citing a debunked litter‑box hoax. Schiffler also expressed willingness to sacrifice women’s voting rights if it would move the nation closer to God, stating, “America is a Christian nation, and we are founded on godly principles.”
Democratic challenger Anita Janis brings a long career in education, having taught in Wisconsin, Illinois, Oregon, and California, and served as dean of Washington’s Wenatchee Valley College before moving to Idaho in 2019. Janis argues Idaho’s public schools are underfunded, citing the state’s constitutional duty to maintain a “general, uniform and thorough system of public free common schools.” She points to rising property taxes and supplemental levies as a “double whammy” for families.
Incumbent’s Appeal to Voters
Pohanka hopes the independent candidate will not split the conservative vote, recalling a similar situation two years ago when Schiffler’s aunt, Kala Tate, ran for the Senate as an independent. He told voters, “I do it from my heart. I just want to make things better than I found it, and I hope the good people, the constituents here of District 26, will see the work that I’ve done and put me back up there.”
Election Day is set for Nov. 3, 2026. Voters in the district will decide whether to retain a representative with a record of public‑service, safety legislation, and fiscal accountability, or to shift to a candidate focused on education reform and a broader conservative vision.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
