Erin Bingham

Erin Bingham: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 32B

Erin Bingham is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 32B, which covers Bonneville County surrounding Idaho Falls. Bingham was appointed by Governor Brad Little on January 9, 2026 to fill the vacancy created when Rep. Wendy Horman resigned to join the Trump administration as director of the Office of Child Care at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is now seeking election to a full term in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, where she faces challenger Brian McKellar, as noted on her Ballotpedia profile. Democrat Kamber Anne Weninger is running in the general election.

Background

Bingham was raised in modest circumstances and has spent her adult life in the Idaho Falls area, raising four children on seven acres south of the city with her husband Val, as described on her campaign website. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and has more than 20 years of business management experience in the medical, real estate, and development sectors, according to her Idaho Legislature member page. She currently serves as CFO of Bingham Ventures, a family-operated development organization focused on financial management and community-minded development, as described in the Governor’s appointment announcement.

Before entering the legislature, Bingham was active in the Idaho Falls area Republican Party as a precinct officer and long-term volunteer. She has served extensively in her children’s schools as a PTO president and classroom volunteer, as she told East Idaho News.

Political Career

Bingham has no prior elected legislative history. She assumed office on January 10, 2026, following her gubernatorial appointment, as documented on her Ballotpedia profile. She was the top nominee selected by the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee, consistent with Idaho law governing legislative vacancies.

In the Idaho House, Bingham serves on the Commerce and Human Resources, Environment, Energy and Technology, and State Affairs committees, per her Idaho Legislature member page.

During her first weeks in office, Bingham introduced House Bill 540, which would amend Idaho Code to ensure that juveniles at the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections receive the same safety and security record protections as adults at the Department of Correction, as reported by East Idaho News.

Policy Positions

Bingham’s priorities, as outlined on her campaign website and in her public statements during the 2026 session, center on fiscal responsibility, housing affordability, mental health access, and education.

On fiscal policy, Bingham states that Idaho must pass a balanced budget with no exceptions, and that core services including education, roads, and public safety must come first. She told East Idaho News that she is highly concerned about the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts, particularly on mental health services, warning that cuts would shift costs to emergency rooms, law enforcement, and corrections rather than producing net savings.

On housing, her campaign website identifies removing regulatory barriers to housing construction as a priority, and frames housing affordability as a foundational issue for Idaho families who want to be able to afford to live where they were raised.

On education, she supports local control, career and technical training pathways, and accountability in how state education dollars are spent. She told the Post Register that the legislature is tackling hard issues including balancing the budget, providing education and training opportunities for young Idahoans, and addressing high costs of housing, healthcare, and living expenses.

Political Alignment

Bingham is a Traditional Conservative Republican. Her appointment by Governor Little, her prior service as a Republican Party precinct officer, her background in business and financial management, her stated fiscal priorities, and her concern about Medicaid cuts all reflect a pragmatic, governance-oriented conservatism consistent with this classification.

Campaign and Endorsements

Bingham filed for re-election in February 2026, as reported by the Post Register. She faces Republican challenger Brian McKellar in the May 19 primary, as noted by the Idaho Capital Sun. No formal organizational endorsements for her 2026 campaign had been publicly reported at the time of publication. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Erin Bingham? Erin Bingham is a Republican state representative from Idaho Falls serving in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 32B. She was appointed by Governor Brad Little in January 2026 to fill the vacancy created by Wendy Horman’s resignation and is seeking her first full elected term.

What district does Erin Bingham represent? Bingham represents House District 32B, which covers Bonneville County surrounding Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho.

Is Erin Bingham an incumbent? Bingham is an appointed incumbent. She was not elected to her current seat but was appointed by Governor Brad Little in January 2026 and is seeking her first full elected term in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

What committees does Erin Bingham serve on? Bingham serves on the Commerce and Human Resources, Environment, Energy and Technology, and State Affairs committees, as listed on her Idaho Legislature member page.

What are Erin Bingham’s main policy positions? Bingham’s stated priorities include balanced budgeting with core services protected, housing affordability through reduced regulatory barriers, access to mental health care, and education investment tied to career and workforce readiness.