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Midterms 2026 · Report · File No. 261111-339

Idaho Democrats flip six legislative seats, but Republicans keep supermajorities

Democrats gained five state House seats and one state Senate seat in Idaho, a state they haven't won statewide since 2002. The gains could give them a bit more say over the state budget.

By the Campaign Desk · · 2 min read

Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

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Jim Risch
Jim Risch. Photo: Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Public domain

Democrats flipped six seats in the Idaho Legislature in last week's midterm election. The gains came in a state where no Democrat has won a statewide office since 2002 1. They could give the party more influence over state budget decisions 1.

Five of the seats are in the state House and one is in the state Senate. They are in three competitive districts: west Boise, the Magic Valley and Pocatello 12. Republicans still hold supermajorities in both chambers 1.

On tapeKTVB · Nov 5
Idaho Democrats highlight legislative seat flips and Ada County results while Republicans swept statewide contests.Video: KTVB on YouTube, “Idaho Democrats celebrate gains in state, local races”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.

Where the seats flipped

In west Boise's District 15, Democrats won one House seat and one Senate seat. In central Idaho's District 26, they won two House seats. In Bannock County's District 29, around Pocatello, they won two more House seats 2.

By unofficial results, the Democratic caucus grows from 15 to 21 members in the 105-seat Legislature 2. Those numbers become official only after the state canvassing board certifies them on Nov. 24 2.

From Channel GOPHamilton: voter who never backed Democrats explains switchSenator-elect Adam Hamilton · 1.9K plays · captioned, with the source named

In Pocatello, Democrat Mary Shea beat Republican Rep. Dustin Manwaring 56% to 44%. She had lost to him in 2022 and 2024. Democrat Nate Roberts also won 56% to 44% in the other seat 3.

What it means for the budget

Ross Burkhart, a political science professor at Boise State University, said the gains might give Democrats more seats on legislative committees. One could be an added seat on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, which helps write Idaho's budget 1.

That could matter after lawmakers approved widespread spending cuts this year. The cuts offset reduced revenue from state and federal tax cuts 1.

Even though it didn’t result in a blue wave in Idaho, it certainly resulted in quite a few wavelets,
Ross Burkhart, political science professor, Boise State University1

A wavelet, not a wave

Idaho was far from a Democratic sweep. Republicans enjoy a voter registration advantage that Burkhart estimated at roughly six to one 1. Democrats also lost a ballot measure, Proposition 1, which would have restored abortion rights. It failed with nearly 56% against and 44% in favor 1.

Todd Achilles, a former Democratic state lawmaker, ran as an independent against Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch. He received about 33.5% of the vote 1.

Markie McBrayer, a University of Idaho political science professor, said the gains were more substantial than they might appear. She said Idaho's U.S. House races shifted about 12 percentage points toward Democrats from 2022. The national shift was roughly 14 to 15 points 1.

Idaho started with much bigger Republican leads, which she said are "difficult to overcome with a wave" 1. Burkhart also noted that Idaho Democrats gained six seats in 2006 and four in 2018, both years of backlash against Republicans 1.

What happens next

The new lawmakers take office in January. Shea, for one, will be sworn in Jan. 1 3. Democrats still need big gains to move from a small minority toward real power in Boise.

That matters because the budget fights ahead involve the cuts lawmakers approved this year 1. A somewhat larger Democratic bloc may have more chances to question those choices in committee.

The Record

  1. Idaho Democrats picked up four legislative seats in a year of backlash against Republicans 1.
  2. Democrats flipped five Idaho House seats and one Idaho Senate seat in the midterm election; Proposition 1 on abortion rights failed 12.
  3. Idaho's State Board of Canvassers is scheduled to certify the results 2.
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Sources

  1. Courthouse News, “A blue ripple in Idaho raises questions about its political future” (2026-11-11). courthousenews.com/a-blue-ripple-in-idaho-raises-questions-a
  2. Daily Montanan (Idaho Capital Sun), “Amid national blue wave, Idaho Democrats gain six legislative seats — flipping competitive districts” (2026-11-04). dailymontanan.com/?p=40055
  3. East Idaho News, “Pocatello goes blue; 3 Democrats sweep District 29 by wide margins” (2026-11-04). eastidahonews.com/2026/11/pocatello-goes-blue-3-democrats-sw

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