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Congress

Democrat David Roth Drops Idaho Senate Bid, Leaving Independent Achilles as Risch’s Main Challenger

David Roth, the Democratic nominee in Idaho’s U.S. Senate race, ended his campaign Tuesday evening, stepping aside and effectively consolidating opposition to Republican incumbent Sen. Jim Risch behind independent candidate Todd Achilles. Roth, an Idaho Falls consultant, won the Democratic primary in May but struggled to gain traction financially. Federal Election Commission data showed his […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 29, 2026
Elections

Idaho Elections Draw Federal Lawsuit and Fraud Arrests Even as Officials Point to Integrity Measures

Idaho’s election system is facing federal legal scrutiny over voter data access while state officials highlight security measures they say make the state a model for election integrity — a dual reality playing out as the national debate over election law continues to intensify. Federal Lawsuit Over Voter Data The U.S. Department of Justice has […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 29, 2026
Legislature

Idaho’s Medicaid Work Requirement Exemption for the ‘Medically Frail’ Puts Documentation Burden on Patients

Beginning next year, most Idahoans enrolled in Medicaid expansion will need to demonstrate they are working, in school, or caregiving to keep their coverage — and those who claim a health-based exemption may soon find themselves gathering paperwork to prove it. The state’s implementation of the “medically frail” exemption is drawing scrutiny as Idaho’s Department […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 29, 2026
Legislature

Swan Falls Flow Sits Comfortably Above Minimum Threshold as Summer Progresses

The Snake River at Swan Falls is meeting its legally required flow levels with room to spare, according to the latest monitoring data from the Murphy Gaging Station near Murphy, Idaho. The three-day average annual average daily flow, or AADF, recorded on July 26 came in at 4,376 cubic feet per second — clearing the […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 28, 2026
Governor

Idaho Named Among Five Finalists to Host Federal Nuclear Innovation Campus

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that Idaho is one of five states under consideration to host a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, a federal initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s nuclear fuel cycle and expanding domestic manufacturing capacity. The announcement, made July 28, positions Idaho as a serious contender thanks in large part […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 28, 2026
Elections

Ten Republicans Now Vying for Idaho’s Special Election Congressional Seat as Sanford Enters Race

The Republican field for Idaho’s 2026 special election congressional primary grew to ten candidates after Sanford formally entered the race, adding another contender to an already crowded contest for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive intraparty battles the state has seen in recent memory. A Crowded Republican Field Sanford’s entry […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 28, 2026
Legislature

Labrador Vows to Defend Kohberger Conviction After Post-Sentence Relief Bid Filed

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador responded Sunday to a petition for post-conviction relief filed by Bryan Kohberger, the man convicted in the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, saying his office is prepared to ensure justice is upheld. Kohberger’s petition seeks to reopen the case surrounding the killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 28, 2026
Legislature

Idaho Medical Ride Program Narrowly Avoided Collapse in May — and Funding Gaps Loom Again

A Boise-area resident who uses a wheelchair was forced to cancel a kidney cancer screening last spring after the medical transportation service she relies on ran out of money mid-month. The episode exposed deeper structural problems facing public transit in Idaho, where no dedicated state funding exists for programs like the one that briefly left […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 27, 2026
Legislature

Idaho Wolf Count Falls to 1,129 as State Pushes Population Toward 500-Animal Target

Idaho’s wolf population dropped by roughly 106 animals over the past year, falling to an estimated 1,129 wolves in 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. State officials say the decline is deliberate and reflects years of expanded hunting and trapping policy aimed at significantly reducing the […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 27, 2026
Legislature

ICE Confirms Enforcement Activity Across East Idaho, Including Teton County Detentions

Federal immigration enforcement operations have taken place across multiple East Idaho communities this month, with authorities confirming at least two detentions near Driggs and separate law enforcement activity in Idaho Falls and Victor. Teton County Operations U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted enforcement operations in the Driggs area of Teton County on July 18, resulting […]

By Idaho Politics Staff · July 26, 2026