Idaho Rep. Rod Furniss Seeks Fourth Term in District 31B Primary Against Former Lawmaker Karey Hanks
Why It Matters
Voters in Idaho Legislative District 31B — covering Jefferson, Fremont, Clark, and Lemhi counties — will head to the polls on May 19 to decide whether incumbent Rep. Rod Furniss earns a fourth term or yields his seat to a familiar political face. The outcome will shape representation for constituents in some of the state’s most rural eastern Idaho communities.
What Happened
Rep. Rod Furniss is defending his House seat against former state Rep. Karey Hanks in the upcoming Republican primary. Furniss, who has served in the Idaho Legislature for eight years, is seeking another two-year term representing a large swath of eastern Idaho.
Both candidates were offered identical questionnaires ahead of the primary. Furniss submitted detailed responses across several policy areas. Hanks declined to participate and offered no explanation for doing so.
The winner of the May 19 primary will advance to the general election on November 3.
Furniss on the Issues
Furniss, a sixth-generation Idahoan with roots in the Menan area, described his background in banking and insurance, noting he has worked in financial services since 1986. He holds degrees in finance from BYU-Idaho and Idaho State University and has served on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, which reviews more than 100 state agency budgets annually.
On fiscal issues, Furniss highlighted that Idaho’s income tax rate has dropped from 6.9% to 5.3% during his tenure and said lawmakers returned approximately $450 million to Idaho taxpayers in a recent budget cycle. He emphasized his consistent support for property tax relief and called for restructuring school funding formulas to reduce the burden on property owners.
Water access, affordable housing, federal overreach, and school overcrowding topped his list of district priorities. On housing, he acknowledged that rising home prices have put homeownership out of reach for many young families. On immigration, Furniss stated his opposition to illegal immigration while supporting reform of temporary worker visa programs to address Idaho’s workforce needs.
Furniss described his policy positions in unambiguous terms. He called abortion “the scourge of the earth,” saying it should only be considered in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the mother’s health — and even then only as a last resort. He voiced support for traditional marriage and the Second Amendment, citing the Idaho Constitution’s protections for gun ownership.
He noted that his faith guides his legislative decisions and referenced his service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a mission to Argentina and leadership roles at the local level.
By the Numbers
- 8 years served in the Idaho House of Representatives
- More than 70 bills carried during his legislative tenure
- Idaho income tax rate reduced from 6.9% to 5.3% since Furniss took office
- Approximately $450 million returned to Idaho taxpayers in a recent legislative session
- District 31B spans four counties: Jefferson, Fremont, Clark, and Lemhi
Zoom Out
Primary challenges to sitting Republican incumbents have become increasingly common across Idaho as the state’s conservative electorate grows more engaged at the local level. Races like this one reflect broader tensions within the party between establishment legislators and challengers seeking a more assertive conservative posture in the statehouse.
Statewide, campaign activity has been brisk ahead of the May 19 primary. Gov. Brad Little has outraised all other statewide candidates in this cycle, reflecting the intensity of electoral competition up and down the ballot. Meanwhile, Rexburg voters will also weigh in on a police department bond measure that returns to the ballot at a lower asking price.
What’s Next
Idaho’s primary election takes place May 19. The candidate who prevails in the District 31B Republican primary will face any general election opponents on November 3. Given the district’s heavily Republican composition, the primary outcome is widely expected to be the deciding contest for the seat.
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