Independent candidates bet Idaho is fed up with party politics

Todd Achilles and Sarah Zabel are running as independents in Idaho, hoping to appeal to voters frustrated with the two-party system.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:23am

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Todd Achilles, a former Democratic state representative, and Sarah Zabel, a retired Air Force major general, have filed to run as independent candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House in Idaho, respectively. They are betting that Idahoans are fed up with the two-party political system and are looking for outsider candidates who can address issues like corporate influence in politics and low wages for workers.

Why it matters

Idaho has historically been a Republican stronghold, but the rise of independent voters nationwide suggests there may be an opening for non-partisan candidates. Achilles and Zabel are hoping to tap into frustration with the status quo and appeal to a broad range of voters, from Democrats to Trump supporters, who feel the current system is 'flat-out broken'.

The details

Achilles, 58, cited an episode where he met a convenience store manager earning $19 an hour without health insurance, despite the company earning $1 billion in profits, as an example of the issues he wants to address. Zabel, a former Republican, said she was motivated to run after retiring from the military and seeing the 'destructive' nature of 'party identity politics'. Both are running as independents, hoping to appeal to voters who feel the two-party system is not serving their interests.

  • In 2025, a record-high 45% of Americans identified as political independents, according to Gallup.
  • In 2020, the independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Idaho, Natalie Fleming, received 3% of the vote.
  • Achilles changed his voter registration from Democrat to independent in June 2026.

The players

Todd Achilles

A former Democratic state representative from Boise who is running as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. Jim Risch.

Sarah Zabel

A retired Air Force major general who is running as an independent candidate for U.S. House against Republican Rep. Russ Fulcher.

Jim Risch

The Republican incumbent U.S. Senator for Idaho, who has served in the Senate since 2009.

Russ Fulcher

The Republican incumbent U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district.

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What they’re saying

“Two-thirds of Idahoans voted for President Trump because they're struggling, and President Trump represented that outsider that was going to break up this broken system. I think people are looking at this thing now, a year into it, and the shine is kind of coming off of that.”

— Todd Achilles, Independent U.S. Senate candidate

“But there's also a whole lot of people who just want the country to work well. We're not understood.”

— Sarah Zabel, Independent U.S. House candidate

What’s next

Achilles and Zabel will continue campaigning across Idaho, hoping to gain traction with voters frustrated with the two-party system. Their success will depend on whether they can convince Idahoans that an independent candidate can effectively represent their interests in Congress.

The takeaway

The rise of independent candidates in Idaho reflects a broader trend of voters seeking alternatives to the traditional Republican and Democratic parties. Achilles and Zabel are betting that by positioning themselves as outsiders, they can appeal to a diverse range of Idahoans who feel the current system is 'flat-out broken' and no longer serving their needs.