Three Republicans Challenge Sen. Jim Risch in Idaho’s May 19 Primary
Why It Matters
Idaho’s U.S. Senate seat is facing its most competitive Republican primary in years, with three challengers lining up to unseat an 18-year incumbent ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary election. The outcome will shape which Republican faces a general election field that includes a Democratic nominee, a Libertarian, and two independent candidates in November.
What Happened
Sen. Jim Risch, 82, will appear on the Republican primary ballot alongside three challengers: Joe Evans of Boise, Denny LaVé of Worley, and Josh Roy of Lewiston. Each candidate brings a different professional background and a distinct set of priorities to the race.
Risch has held Idaho’s Senate seat for 18 years and previously served as an Idaho state senator, lieutenant governor, and governor. His campaign cites fighting for Idaho farmers, cutting taxes and wasteful government spending, and supporting law enforcement as his top issues. Notably, Risch did not respond to a primary election voter guide survey that all three challengers completed.
Evans, 57, is an Army combat veteran working in data analytics. He is calling for rolling back federal agency rulemaking authority, reducing regulations that raise the cost of living, and securing the southern border while preserving civil liberties.
LaVé, 49, is an ironworker and construction company owner who lists border security, ending what he calls reckless government spending, and pulling back from overseas military entanglements as his top priorities.
Roy, 44, is a Lewiston-based engineer in the pulp and paper industry. He is focusing on congressional term limits, protecting the nuclear family, and reducing federal regulations that affect everyday Idahoans.
By the Numbers
- Risch has served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and is currently 82 years old
- Three challengers are competing against him in the Republican primary
- The general election field includes a Democratic nominee, Libertarian Matt Loesby, and independents Todd Achilles and Natalie Fleming
- Roy brings 20 years of heavy industrial manufacturing experience to the race
- The primary is set for May 19, 2026
Where the Candidates Stand on Key Issues
All three challengers indicated a willingness to work across party lines on pressing issues such as passing a federal budget and updating the long-stalled farm bill. Evans put it directly: “Shutdown politics hurt families, contractors, producers, and local communities.” LaVé said collaborative solutions are achievable on economic and fiscal matters, though he drew a firm line on social policy and argued that U.S. resources should not extend to cover illegal immigrants. Roy said his two decades in private industry give him a perspective free of Washington baggage.
On the question of Idaho’s vast federal public lands, the candidates shared some common ground while differing on specifics. LaVé came out firmly against any sale to large corporations, particularly for use as data centers. Evans said he would oppose a broad selloff and expressed caution about simply transferring land to the state without a solid management and funding plan. He advocated for more local input, active forest management, wildfire mitigation, and expanded access for grazing, timber, and recreation. Roy argued for state control of federally managed lands and suggested limited development on certain parcels could benefit Idaho families seeking affordable housing — with a proposed five-year residency requirement for eligibility.
Risch has historically supported keeping Idaho’s federal lands accessible to the public. The issue has gained fresh urgency amid reports of legislative efforts that could open the door to land sales as part of broader federal budget negotiations.
Zoom Out
Primary challenges against long-serving Republican incumbents have become more common across the Mountain West as voters look for representatives who align with shifting conservative priorities on spending, border enforcement, and federal land management. Idaho’s Senate race fits into a broader national pattern of grassroots Republicans pressing incumbents who are seen as too comfortable in Washington. For more on competitive Republican primaries in the region, see coverage of Michael Baumgartner’s town hall tour across Washington’s 5th Congressional District.
What’s Next
Idaho Republicans will head to the polls on May 19. The primary winner will advance to a November general election that already features multiple challengers from outside the Republican Party. Risch, if he wins the primary, would be seeking another six-year term that would carry him into his late eighties — a factor some primary voters are expected to weigh as they make their decision.
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