Barbara Ehardt

Barbara Ehardt: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 33A

Barbara Ehardt is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives seeking a fifth elected term in District 33A, which covers a portion of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. Ehardt lives in Idaho Falls and has served in the Idaho House since December 2017. She faces Republican challenger Connor Cook in the May 19, 2026 primary, as confirmed on Ballotpedia. Democrat Chance Marshall is running in the general election.

Background

Ehardt was born on February 29, 1964 in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1983. She earned an associate degree in general studies from North Idaho College in 1985 and a Bachelor of Science degree in English and language arts education from Idaho State University in 1988, as documented on Wikipedia. She played college basketball at both schools before spending 15 years as a coach, including seven seasons as an assistant at UC Santa Barbara and three seasons as head women’s basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton from 2000 to 2003. She returned to Idaho Falls in 2003 and since has operated a youth sports camp and managed an athletic club. She served on the Idaho Falls City Council beginning in 2013 and was president of the Bonneville County Republican Women before her appointment to the Idaho House in 2017.

Political Career

Ehardt was appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives on December 27, 2017 by Gov. Butch Otter, filling the vacancy created by Janet Trujillo’s resignation, as documented on Ballotpedia. She won her first full term in 2018 and has been re-elected in every cycle since, defeating Democrat Miranda Marquit in both 2022 and 2024. She faced her only Republican primary challenger in 2022, defeating Jeff Thompson with 57% of the vote, as reported by Idaho Education News.

She currently chairs the House Local Government Committee and also sits on the Education and Judiciary, Rules and Administration committees, per her Idaho Legislature member page.

Ehardt is nationally recognized as the author of Idaho’s 2020 law prohibiting transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports, the first such law in the nation. In the 2026 session, she floor-sponsored Senate Bill 1336, a civics curriculum overhaul signed into law by Gov. Brad Little that directs Idaho public schools to inspire a love of nation, exemplify patriotism, and center instruction on founding historical documents, as reported by Idaho Education News. She has also pursued legislation to prohibit Idaho legislators from simultaneously holding local elected office, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Policy Positions

Ehardt’s publicly stated priorities center on parental rights, girls’ and women’s sports protections, civics and patriotic education, constitutional rights, property tax relief, and opposition to what she describes as gender ideology in public institutions. On education, she has championed a civics curriculum emphasizing the founding principles of the American republic, telling Idaho Education News that the bill deals with the “heart of America” and that too many students currently believe socialism and communism are better alternatives to a republic. On fiscal policy, she has stated her support for eliminating property taxes on primary residences offset by increased sales tax. She has been the Legislature’s leading voice for restrictions on transgender participation in women’s sports and limitations on gender-identity-related policies in schools and public facilities.

Political Alignment

Ehardt is a Conservative Activist. Her sustained record of culture-war legislation – including authorship of the nation’s first transgender sports ban, sponsorship of the 2026 civics curriculum law, and ongoing restrictions on gender identity policy in schools – places her within the activist wing of Idaho’s Republican caucus. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC, a school choice-aligned group with out-of-state backers, reported $25,165 in support of her 2026 campaign, as reported by Idaho Education News.

Campaign and Endorsements

Ehardt faces Republican challenger Connor Cook in the May 19, 2026 primary. Democrat Chance Marshall is running in the general election. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC has reported $25,165 in support of her 2026 campaign, and she has raised $13,792 in direct contributions against Cook’s $11,075, as reported by Idaho Education News. She has signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Barbara Ehardt, Idaho? Barbara Ehardt is a Republican state representative from Idaho Falls currently serving her fourth consecutive elected term in Idaho House District 33A. She is a former Division I basketball coach, author of Idaho’s transgender sports ban, and chair of the House Local Government Committee.

What district does Barbara Ehardt represent? Ehardt represents House District 33A, which covers a portion of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County.

Is Barbara Ehardt an incumbent? Yes. Ehardt has served in the Idaho House since December 2017 and is seeking a fifth elected term. She faces Republican challenger Connor Cook in the May 19, 2026 primary.

What committees does Barbara Ehardt serve on? Ehardt chairs the Local Government Committee and also sits on the Education and Judiciary, Rules and Administration committees, per her Idaho Legislature member page.

What are Barbara Ehardt’s main policy positions? Ehardt’s stated priorities include girls’ and women’s sports protections, civics and patriotic education, parental rights, constitutional rights, property tax relief, and opposition to gender ideology in public institutions.

2024 Primary Election Results Ehardt — Unopposed

2024 General Election Results Ehardt defeated Marquit (D)

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.