Tuesday, September 1, 2026 · Off-Session

Idaho Politics

Independent Political Coverage
HomeLawmakersBillsElectionsLegislatureGovernorCommentaryArchive
Elections

Fewer Than Half of Idaho’s 2026 Candidates Respond to Statewide Election Survey

With Idaho’s 2026 general election approaching, a candidate survey conducted by CBS2/FOX9 drew responses from just 100 of the 220 candidates contacted — a response rate of roughly 45 percent — offering voters a partial but direct look at where those running for office stand on the issues. How the Survey Worked Candidates received a […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 24, 2026
Legislature

Labrador Asks Washington to Hand Idaho Control Over Grizzly Bear Management

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has formally requested that the federal government allow Idaho to manage its own grizzly bear population, pushing for full delisting of the species by December 2026. The request comes as the Trump administration has proposed revised rules for grizzly management that would reduce the regulatory burden on states and give […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 24, 2026
Elections

Idaho Democrat Peterson Issues Debate Challenge to Fulcher, Independent Zabel for October Forum

Kaylee Peterson, the Democratic candidate for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, has extended a formal debate invitation to incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher and independent candidate Sarah Zabel, setting a two-hour forum for the evening of October 17. The Invitation Peterson announced the invitation on Wednesday, with the debate scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 24, 2026
Elections

Idaho Voters Weigh Whether Data Center Policies Will Influence Their November Choices

As Idaho’s November election season takes shape, data centers have emerged as a flashpoint issue — and at least some political observers are asking whether candidates’ positions on the technology facilities could move voters at the ballot box. The question reflects growing tensions across Idaho over proposed and existing data centers, which have sparked debate […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 22, 2026
Legislature

University of Idaho Law Student Drafts Bill to Prohibit Human Remains Sales in Idaho

A University of Idaho law student has turned a personal policy goal into proposed legislation, drafting a bill that would ban the sale of human remains in Idaho. Desalyn Swank told the Times-News protecting the deceased from exploitation has been a driving motivation since she enrolled in law school. She told the Magic Valley that […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 21, 2026
Elections

Idaho’s Voter Registration Website Fixed After Cellphone Users Reported Search Failures

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office has resolved a technical problem with its online voter look-up tool after residents reported last week that the site was failing to return registration results. Reports of the glitch began surfacing on social media around August 10, with users accessing the site on cellphones running into the most trouble. […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 21, 2026
Legislature

Idaho AG Labrador Takes Federal Court’s Health-Based Abortion Ruling to Appeals Court

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Thursday that his office is appealing a federal district court ruling that carved out exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban for cases involving the mother’s health or the risk of death from self-harm. Labrador is simultaneously asking the federal appeals court to block the lower court’s decision while […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 20, 2026
Legislature

Idaho Researchers Explore Underground Dams to Capture Water Before It Flows Out of State

With more than three-quarters of Idaho currently experiencing drought conditions, researchers at Idaho State University are investigating whether underground barriers could help the state hold onto water that would otherwise flow away — a concept already proven in Japan but untested in the United States. Bruce Savage, professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 20, 2026
Legislature

Labrador Takes Idaho Abortion Ruling to Ninth Circuit, Seeks Emergency Stay

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has appealed a federal court ruling that blocked enforcement of portions of the state’s near-total abortion ban, simultaneously asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to pause the decision while the case moves forward. U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill had ruled that the 14th Amendment shields a right […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 20, 2026
Congress

Simpson Casts 20 House Votes Across Busy Week of Congressional Action

Idaho Republican Congressman Mike Simpson recorded 20 roll call votes in the U.S. House during a five-day stretch spanning May 14 through May 21, according to his official congressional voting record. What Simpson Voted On The votes covered a range of legislation and procedural matters. Simpson supported passage of several bills, including H.R. 1000, H.R. […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 20, 2026
Legislature

Idaho AG Labrador Pushes to Strip Federal Endangered Species Protections from Grizzly Bears

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador formally urged the federal government this week to remove grizzly bears from Endangered Species Act protections and transfer greater management authority to the states. Labrador’s comments were submitted in response to a Trump administration proposal issued July 17 that would revise the Endangered Species Act’s “4(d) rule” as it applies […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · August 19, 2026