A race on the right: What to know about Idaho's 2026 primary elections

"Hardline challengers hope to unseat incumbent frontrunners in Idaho's primary races for governor and US Congress. Among the six states holding primaries on Tuesday is the solidly red enclave of Idaho, nestled in the northwest, close to the United States border with Canada. The state's Republican bona fides are well established. Not since 1974 has it sent a Democrat to the US Senate. The last Democrat elected to federal office was in 2008 and that politician, US Representative Walt Minnick, only served a single term."

"But its deep-red streak makes Tuesday's primary races all the more important for the state. The winners on the Republican side are likely to sail to victory in November's general election. Still, the vote is expected to serve as a bellwether for the future of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump's leadership. Many of the state's Republican primaries are contests between moderates and more hardline conservatives."

"The polls will be open from 8am to 8pm local time (14:00 GMT on May 19 to 02:00 GMT on May 20). Idaho is a largely agricultural state, with a modest population of more than 2 million. That means it only has two members in the US House of Representatives, which divides its 435 seats among the states according to the number of residents. Both of Idaho's House seats will be up for grabs, as well as one of Idaho's spots in the US Senate."

"At the state level, quite a few positions will be on the ballot, most notably the governor's office. Idaho Governor Brad Little sits between his Nebraska counterpart, Pete Ricketts, and US President Donald Trump at a White House meeting on December 16, 2019 [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] Many of Idaho's primary races are shaping up to be contests between incumbents and challengers seeking to push the state's politics further to the right. That is the case for Governor Brad Little, a 72-year-old rancher who is campaigning for a third term as"

Idaho holds Republican primary races for governor, US Senate, and both US House seats. The state is strongly Republican and has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1974. The last Democrat elected to federal office was US Representative Walt Minnick in 2008, who served one term. Because Republican winners are expected to win in November, the primary vote is treated as a bellwether for the Republican Party’s future under President Donald Trump. Many primaries feature contests between moderates and hardline conservatives, including a governor’s race involving incumbent Brad Little seeking a third term. Polls open from 8am to 8pm local time.

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