Federal race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate

One of Idaho's two U.S. senators, who write and vote on federal laws, confirm presidential nominees and approve treaties.

6-year term. Regular election for the Class 2 seat. Democratic primary winner David Roth withdrew on Aug. 28, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State lists his filing as withdrawn, so no Democrat appears on the ballot. No certified write-in candidates were listed for this race on the Secretary of State's final candidate list.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name.

  • Todd Achilles

    Former Idaho state representative; public policy professor at Boise State University
    Independent

    Todd Achilles is an Army veteran and former technology executive who served in the Idaho House as a Democrat from 2024 to 2025 before resigning to run for the Senate as an independent. He is campaigning on congressional term and age limits, a ban on stock trading by members of Congress, public lands and health care costs.

  • Natalie M. Fleming

    Software and supply chain professional
    Independent

    Natalie M. Fleming attended junior high and high school in Moscow, Idaho, and raised four children as a single parent in the Treasure Valley while working in software and supply chain management. She is running as an independent focused on housing affordability, data privacy and surveillance, water and land management, and family agriculture.

  • Matt Loesby

    Software engineer and video game developer
    Libertarian

    Matt Loesby is a software engineer and video game developer who moved to Idaho in 2020 and was the Libertarian nominee for Idaho's 1st Congressional District in 2024. He is the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, campaigning on deep federal spending cuts, immigration restriction and transferring federal land to the state.

  • Jim Risch

    U.S. Senator from Idaho; Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
    RepublicanIncumbent

    Jim Risch has represented Idaho in the U.S. Senate since 2009 and previously served as Idaho governor, lieutenant governor and a state senator. He is seeking a fourth term, campaigning on tax cuts, keeping public lands in public hands, border security and energy production.

Compare on the issues

Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.

Candidate positions by issue for U.S. Senate
IssueTodd Achilles
Independent
Natalie M. Fleming
Independent
Matt Loesby
Libertarian
Jim Risch
Republican
Energy & Environment

Opposes selling or auctioning public lands, wants the Forest Service and BLM fully staffed, and supports higher Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments to rural counties.

Would restore the 30 percent federal tax credit for homeowner-owned solar panels and batteries, keep Idaho's dams running, and favors rooftop solar over solar farms on farmland.

Wants all federal land in Idaho transferred to the state, and would remove regulations that block construction of nuclear power plants.

Opposes selling federal public lands in Idaho and cites his work as governor on Idaho's state Roadless Rule; says wildfire management could improve.

Supports expanding nuclear, hydropower and other domestic energy, opposed the Lava Ridge wind project and opposes breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

Immigration

Supports border security resources and an improved legal immigration system, citing the 2013 bipartisan reform bill as a model; supports year-round H-2A work with Idaho workers given priority for jobs.

Supports immigration reform that pairs border security with a faster, simpler legal immigration process.

Says he would push for mass deportation of people in the country illegally and the "remigration" of many legal immigrants and their children.

Supports border security, says some agricultural sectors need immigrant labor, wants the H-2A farmworker visa expanded to year-round work, and opposes a path to citizenship for people who entered illegally.

Elections & Democracy

Supports congressional term limits, an age limit of 72 for members of Congress, a congressional stock-trading ban and ending gerrymandering; opposes the SAVE Act, calling it "federal overreach."

Would cut federal grants for camera networks, bar federal agencies from local license-plate data without a warrant, and pass the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act.

No public position found yet

Supports the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote; says Idaho's own elections are secure.

AgricultureNo public position found yet

Supports the PRIME Act, antitrust enforcement in meatpacking and farm supplies, right-to-repair for farm equipment, and simpler farmworker visas for family-scale operations.

Would remove federal laws and regulations he says limit how farmers and ranchers use their land and livestock.

No public position found yet
Foreign Policy

Says he would work to end "endless wars," reassert Congress's war powers and fully fund the VA.

No public position found yet

Would cut funding for all overseas military operations and bring U.S. troops home.

No public position found yet
Guns

Says he would vote against new federal bans on firearms or magazines and against a federal gun-owner registry.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet

Says he will protect Second Amendment rights.

Health Care

Says the Affordable Care Act needs to be reformed, criticized the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, and would ban pharmaceutical company payments to doctors.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet

Says the Affordable Care Act "needs work" and that health care should move "significantly more back into the private sector."

HousingNo public position found yet

Would limit the number of homes any one entity can own to no more than ten, use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to convert corporate-owned rentals to mortgages, and ban non-resident foreign ownership of homes.

No public position found yet

Cites a federal housing bill he backed, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aimed at lowering housing costs.

Taxes

Says he would close tax loopholes used by corporations and high earners and lower taxes for working families, small businesses and agricultural producers.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet

Supports cutting taxes and federal spending, backs a Balanced Budget Amendment, and voted for the 2025 law removing federal taxes on tips and overtime.

Abortion

Says personal and medical decisions belong to individuals and commits to aligning with Idaho's Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act ballot initiative.

No public position found yetNo public position found yetNo public position found yet
Economy & JobsNo public position found yet

Supports protecting SNAP food assistance funding.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet
Social Security & MedicareNo public position found yetNo public position found yet

Says Congress needs to make large cuts to entitlement programs, including Social Security.

No public position found yet

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