Republican Primary Field Takes Shape

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher will face two Republican challengers in the May primary election for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, which represents northern and western Idaho.

Andy Briner, 33, works as a kitchen designer and small farmer. Joseph Morrison is a Marine veteran who works in IT support. Morrison did not respond to candidate questionnaires from news outlets.

Candidate Backgrounds and Priorities

Fulcher, 64, won election to Congress in 2019 after serving a decade in the Idaho state Senate. He listed energy independence, election security policy, and expanding local control of public lands as his top priorities.

Briner said his campaign focuses on improving affordability, releasing files related to convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein, and withdrawing U.S. forces from Middle Eastern conflicts including the war with Iran.

Morrison’s campaign website identifies limiting executive branch authority, ending corporate bailouts, and protecting privacy of law-abiding citizens as his chief concerns.

Public Lands Management Debate

Federal agencies own and manage nearly two-thirds of Idaho’s land. Both Fulcher and Briner support transferring more management authority to the state while maintaining public access.

Briner wrote that Idaho should manage most of its land, noting the state has previously sold land to private buyers. He said regulations would be needed to limit such sales, arguing Idahoans care more about their state than federal agencies.

Fulcher voted for an amendment during budget negotiations that would have authorized selling public lands in Nevada and Utah, though the provision was later removed from the legislation. He wrote to Idaho officials in December proposing meetings to discuss transferring federal land management to state control.

The congressman said outdoor recreation users, farmers, ranchers, loggers, and sportsmen should work with the Idaho Department of Lands and local governments to manage these resources. He pointed to what he described as declining support among non-Western lawmakers for programs that compensate counties for lost property tax revenue from public lands.

Congress extended the Secure Rural Schools program through fiscal year 2026 in a 399-5 vote last year. The House approved reauthorizing the payment in lieu of taxes program in January by a 397-28 margin.

Voter ID Legislation

The House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship to register and photo identification at polling places. The Senate is still considering the measure, which President Donald Trump has identified as a top legislative priority.

Fulcher is among 110 Republican co-sponsors. He said the legislation would enforce the constitutional requirement that voters be U.S. citizens. Federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections.

Critics have raised concerns the bill could create barriers for married women who changed their names, end voter registration drives, and require states to submit complete voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship verification.

Briner said he supports requiring identification at every election but believes states should run their own elections without federal involvement. He described this as a tension between voter security and limited federal government.

Federal Spending

Fulcher said reductions to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace spending in recently passed budget legislation were necessary. Briner indicated he has different spending priorities but did not provide specifics in available materials.

Early voting for the May primary election has begun in some Idaho counties. The primary will determine which Republican advances to the November general election in the heavily Republican district.