Candidate Filing Opens for Idaho's 2026 Elections

All 105 legislative seats, statewide offices, and some congressional seats will be on the ballot.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Candidates for Idaho statewide and legislative elected offices can officially declare they're running in the 2026 elections starting next week. The candidate filing period runs from February 24 to February 28, with a new online filing option and a shortened one-week filing period.

Why it matters

Idaho's elections are dominated by the Republican Party, with the GOP holding a supermajority in the state legislature and winning every statewide office since 2002. This election cycle will determine the state's political leadership for the next four years.

The details

The candidate filing period for Idaho's 2026 elections opens on Monday, February 24 and runs through Friday, February 28. All 105 state legislative seats, statewide offices like governor and attorney general, and some congressional seats will be on the ballot. This year, candidates can file online at VoteIdaho.gov instead of having to travel to the state capitol in Boise. The filing period has also been shortened from two weeks to one week.

  • The candidate filing period runs from February 24 to February 28, 2026.
  • Idaho's 2026 primary election is on May 19.
  • The deadline to change party affiliation or become unaffiliated before the primary is March 13.
  • Early voting starts on April 27.
  • The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is May 8.

The players

Phil McGrane

Idaho Secretary of State, who said the state is "excited to kick off the election season with a streamlined process for candidates across Idaho."

Joe Parris

Spokesperson for the Idaho Secretary of State's Office, who provided details on the election timeline.

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What they’re saying

“We are excited to kick off the election season with a streamlined process for candidates across Idaho. We look forward to the year ahead and appreciate Idahoans' effort to seek public service.”

— Phil McGrane, Idaho Secretary of State (Idaho Capital Sun)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This election cycle will be crucial in determining Idaho's political leadership for the next four years, as the Republican Party has maintained a firm grip on the state's government for decades. The new online filing option and shortened filing period aim to streamline the candidate registration process.