2024 General Election Candidate Endorsements
The candidates, initiatives and measures listed below earned IEA’s endorsement in the coming general election on Nov. 5 by representing the pro-education perspective and values of IEA members.
Candidates for office earned their endorsements through interviews with IEA members and answering questionnaires about their positions on education policy.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Idaho’s general election on Nov. 5.
Proposition 1 — Vote Yes ✔
Endorsed Candidates for Legislative Seats
IEA’s Political Action Committee for Education interviewed dozens of candidates seeking endorsement by IEA members during 2024’s election cycle. Each was carefully considered for their views on public education policy.
IEA members believe good education policy is non-partisan, and this bi-partisan list of candidate endorsements reflects that principle. Pro-public education policy stances — not political party affiliation — are the primary requirement to earn an IEA member endorsement.
The list below includes endorsements in 22 legislative races across Idaho.
✔ BONDS & LEVIES
Twenty-five school districts across Idaho are asking local voters to approve nearly $250 million in bonds and levies at the polls on Nov. 5.
IEA members encourage voters to approve each of those measures because of the important fundamental funding most of them provide to local schools.
However, the fact that school districts must ask local taxpayers to foot the bill for ordinary expenses through these extraordinary measures is the best evidence of Idaho’s chronic underfunding of public education.
DISTRICT 1
Boundary and Bonner counties
House Seat A
Mark Sauter – R
House Seat B
Kathryn Larson – D
Senate
Jim Woodward – R
DISTRICT 2
Shoshone, Clearwater, Kootenai and Benewah counties
House Seat A
Loree Peery – D
House Seat B
Tami Holdahl – I
Senate
Tom Hearn – D
DISTRICT 3
Kootenai County
House Seat A
Dale Broadsword – D
DISTRICT 4
Kootenai County
House Seat B
Paula Marano – D
DISTRICT 5
Boundary and Bonner counties
House Seat A
Kristy Reed Johnson – D
House Seat B
Teresa Borrenpohl – D
DISTRICT 6
Lahah, Nez Perce, and Lewis counties
House Seat A
Lori McCann – R
House Seat B
Kathy Dawes – D
Senate
Julia Parker – D
DISTRICT 9
Washington and Payette counties
Senate
Rachel Buck – D
DISTRICT 9
Washington and Payette counties
Senate
Rachel Buck – D
DISTRICT 11
Canyon County
House Seat B
Marisela Pesina – D
Senate
Toni Ferro – D
DISTRICT 15
Ada County
House A
Steve Berch – D
House B
Shari Baber – D
Senate
Rick Just – D
DISTRICT 16
Ada County
House A
Soñia Galaviz – D
House B
Todd Achilles – D
Senate
Ali Rabe – D
DISTRICT 17
Ada County
House A
John L. Gannon – D
House B
Megan Egbert – D
Senate
Carrie Semmelroth – D
DISTRICT 18
Ada County
House A
Ilana Rubel – D
House B
Brooke Green – D
Senate
Janie Ward-Engleking – D
DISTRICT 19
Ada County
House A
Monica C. Church – D
House B
Chris Mathias – D
Senate
Melissa Wintrow – D
DISTRICT 21
Ada County
House A
James Petzke – R
DISTRICT 25
Twin Falls County
House A
Lance Clow – R
DISTRICT 26
Blaine, Lincoln, and Jerome counties
House A
Ned W. Burns – D
House B
Jack Nelson – R
Dual Endorsement:
Senate
Laurie Lickley – R
Ron Taylor – D
DISTRICT 27
Cassia, Minidoka and Oneida counties
House A
Damian D. Rodriguez – D
DISTRICT 29
Bannock County (Pocatello)
House A
Mary Shea – D
House B
Nate Roberts – D
Senate
James D. Ruchti – D
DISTRICT 28
Bannock, Franklin, and Power counties
House A
Richard (Rick) Cheatum – R
House B
Dan Garner – R
DISTRICT 31
Lemhi County
House B
Rod Furniss – R
DISTRICT 32
Bonneville County
House A
Stephanie Mickelsen – R
Senate
Kevin J. Cook – R
DISTRICT 33
Bonneville County
House A
Miranda Marquit – D
House B
Marco Erickson – R
DISTRICT 35
Bannock, Bear Lake, Caribou and Teton counties
House B
Josh Wheeler – R