2026 Idaho gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Idaho gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Idaho. Incumbent Republican governor Brad Little is running for re-election to a third term. Primary elections took place on May 19, 2026.[1] Little secured his party's renomination with 59 percent of the vote, while Terri Pickens secured the Democratic Party's nomination with over 61 percent.[2]
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November 3, 2026
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Background
Incumbent governor Brad Little won re-election in 2022 with 60.51% of the vote.[3]
The Democratic Party has not won an Idaho gubernatorial race since 1990.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Brad Little, incumbent governor (2019–present)[4]
Eliminated in primary
- Sean Calvert Crystal, candidate for Idaho's 32nd legislative district in 2024[5]
- Mark Fitzpatrick, former police officer and owner of Old State Saloon[5]
- Daniel Fowler[5]
- Ethan Giles[5]
- Ron James, Teton County commissioner[5]
- Lisa Marie, perennial candidate[5]
- Justin Plante, mechanic[5]
Endorsements
Brad Little
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[6]
- Labor unions
Idaho Education Association(endorsement rescinded)[7]- Idaho Fraternal Order of Police[7]
- Professional Firefighters of Idaho[7]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Contributions | Cash Balance | |
| Brad Little (R) | $1,928,267 | $1,162,552 | |
| Mark Fitzpatrick (R) | $185,753 | $35,959 | |
| Source: Idaho Sunshine[8] | |||
Primary results
Little
- 70-80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
Fitzpatrick
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brad Little (incumbent) | 140,778 | 58.96 | |
| Republican | Mark Fitzpatrick | 68,546 | 28.67 | |
| Republican | Lisa Marie | 7,215 | 3.02 | |
| Republican | Justin Plante | 5,286 | 2.21 | |
| Republican | Sean Crystal | 4,558 | 1.91 | |
| Republican | Ron James | 4,510 | 1.89 | |
| Republican | Daniel Fowler | 4,197 | 1.75 | |
| Republican | Ethan Giles | 3,672 | 1.54 | |
| Total votes | 238,762 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Maxine Durand, former Twin Falls Director of Transportation (2023–2025)[11] (previously ran as an independent)[12]
- Jill Kirkham, small-business owner[5]
- Chanelle Torrez[5]
Endorsements
Maxine Durand
- Organizations
Democratic Socialists of America Southern Idaho, Boise & Southeast Idaho(endorsement rescinded)[13]
Primary results
Pickens
- 60-70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
Durand
- 30–40%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terri Pickens | 30,331 | 61.42 | |
| Democratic | Jill Kirkham | 8,377 | 16.96 | |
| Democratic | Maxine Durand | 7,178 | 14.53 | |
| Democratic | Chanelle Torrez | 3,500 | 7.09 | |
| Total votes | 49,386 | 100.00 | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Melissa-Sue Robinson, perennial candidate[5]
- Paul Sand, Libertarian party nominee in 2022 Idaho gubernatorial election[5]
Constitution primary
Independents
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- John Stegner, former justice of the Idaho Supreme Court (2018–2023)[15][5]
Withdrawn
- Maxine Durand, former Twin Falls Director of Transportation (2023–2025)[11] (running as a Democrat)[16]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[17] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[18] | Safe R | June 19, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[19] | Solid R | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[20] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report[21] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |