Why Does May Matter?

The background: For nearly a year, Idaho Education Association members have been talking about May Matters. If you’re unfamiliar with the campaign, or if you just need a refresher, here’s a breakdown.  

• May Matters is IEA’s campaign to return a pro-public education majority to the Idaho Legislature by boosting educator turnout in the May 2026 primary elections.  

• It launched in spring 2025 in response to a litany of bad-for-education policies promulgated by anti-public education lawmakers, such as House Bill 93, which established Idaho’s new private school voucher system.  

• The premise is simple: A small number of votes in the May primary election often determines who sits in the Legislature — and a single vote in the Legislature can decide the fate of public schools.  

The goal: Get pro-public education candidates elected by turning out educators and allies in May, especially in closed primaries where party registration matters.  

The math behind the campaign: “We chose to focus on the May 2026 primaries because that is when most races are decided in Idaho,” said Chris Parri, IEA’s political director. “Idaho’s closed primary system means these races aren’t just preliminary; they’re often where elections are decided. Voting for the pro-public education candidates in May is critical.” 

• In 32 of 35 legislative districts, races are decided in the May primary — not in the November general election.  

• Some races are decided by just a few votes. “Small numbers of votes have led to big consequences for Idaho’s public schools — and IEA members can tip the balance the other way,” Parri said. “People often complain that their votes don’t matter. That’s not the case in Idaho’s May primaries.” 

• The Idaho Legislature sets budgets, class-size rules, special education funding, teacher support and pay, and so much more.  “At IEA, we often say that education is political, not partisan,” said IEA Associate Executive Director Matt Compton. “The Idaho Legislature is increasingly intolerant of local control. If we want educators to have a say in classroom decisions, members have to get political. They have to vote.”  

What it’s not: May Matters has been misrepresented as a re-registration campaign rather than a turnout campaign. Voting in the primary isn’t about partisanship — it’s about showing up when real choices are made. 

• “What happens in the privacy of the ballot box is sacred,” Compton said. “We’re asking people who treasure public education to learn about the issues, learn about the candidates in their districts, and vote their values.” 

Bottom line: Turnout changes everything! Educator votes in May can flip a seat and reshape policy.