James Lamborn

James Floyd Lamborn: Idaho Republican Challenger for House District 28A

James Floyd Lamborn is a Republican candidate challenging incumbent Rep. Richard “Rick” Cheatum in the District 28A Republican primary for the Idaho House of Representatives. Lamborn, who lives in American Falls in Power County, is making his second consecutive bid for the seat. He lost to Cheatum in the May 2024 Republican primary and filed again for the May 19, 2026 primary. He has never held elected office.

Background

Lamborn was born in Auburn, Washington, and grew up moving frequently due to his stepfather’s military service, according to his Ballotpedia profile. He spent much of his adult life in the Seattle area before relocating to American Falls, Idaho, in 2022. On his campaign website, he writes that he and his wife chose American Falls deliberately and “found a sense of belonging here that we didn’t find anywhere else,” describing the move as a search for a place where their conservative values could thrive.

Lamborn’s career history spans several industries. He began in the restaurant industry, later worked as a route sales representative and Teamsters union member, and eventually moved into management roles. He is currently self-employed as a day trader and investor, managing his own portfolio. He also serves as head of security at his church. He earned an associate degree from California Coast University in 2020, as noted on his Ballotpedia profile.

Lamborn and his wife Misty have been married since 2013 and have two adult daughters and two grandchildren. Since moving to Power County, he has helped revive the Power County GOP Central Committee and serves as its vice chairman, while Misty Lamborn serves as a state committeewoman, according to his Idaho State Journal candidate announcement.

Political Career

Lamborn has not held elected office. His first run was in the 2024 Republican primary for Idaho House District 28A, where he finished second in a three-way race. Incumbent Rick Cheatum received 40.0% of the vote, Lamborn received 33.2%, and Mike Saville received 26.9%, out of 7,063 total votes cast.

Lamborn characterizes Cheatum as a “counterfeit Republican” whose voting record does not reflect the values of District 28, citing specific votes on school choice, vaccine mandates, Second Amendment restrictions, and other issues as evidence, as documented on his campaign website. The same three-candidate field has re-formed for the 2026 primary, with the winner facing Democrat Kim Jackman in November.

Policy Positions

Lamborn’s stated priorities center on school choice and parental rights, fiscal conservatism, Second Amendment protections, abortion opposition, and election integrity.

On education, his campaign website argues that parents must retain total authority over their children’s education across public, charter, private, and homeschool settings, and argues that competition between schools raises academic standards. In a written response to Idaho Education News in March 2026, he took a more measured position, stating his support for the Parental Choice Tax Credit while calling for careful implementation with accountability and a clear understanding of long-term costs.

On parental rights, his campaign website states that parents must retain authority over their children’s healthcare, education, and moral upbringing, with specific opposition to gender-affirming treatments for minors and abortion access for minors without parental consent.

On fiscal policy, his campaign website calls for applying what he describes as a “chainsaw approach” to state spending, citing Idaho’s total appropriations growth from roughly $9 billion in fiscal year 2020 to $13.9 billion in fiscal year 2024. He supports line-by-line audits of state agencies and reduction or elimination of property, income, and grocery taxes, as stated on his IDGOP candidate page.

On the Second Amendment, his campaign website states that “nothing less than Constitutional Carry is acceptable in Idaho.” On abortion, he describes the protection of life from conception to natural death as a moral imperative rooted in his religious beliefs, and supports defunding organizations that perform or promote abortions. On election integrity, Lamborn opposes ranked-choice voting and supports a one-person-one-vote standard, as detailed on his BallotReady profile.

Political Alignment

Lamborn is a Conservative Activist, with several documented indicators placing him at the rightward edge of that classification within Idaho’s political context.

His 2024 Ballotpedia survey response states that any Republican candidate “ought to fully agree with a minimum of 95% of the official GOP Platform.” During the 2024 primary, the Citizens Alliance of Idaho supported his campaign, while a separate anti-extremism PAC, Defend and Protect Idaho, spent $3,490 specifically to oppose him, as documented by Idaho Education News. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho is an activist PAC with documented funding ties to the Idaho Freedom Foundation board, as reported by Spokane Public Radio.

His 2026 campaign is managed by RMC Strategy, a consulting firm previously known as McShane LLC, whose other Idaho clients, per Idaho Education News, include legislators associated with the Idaho Freedom Caucus. His campaign website also uses religious framing as a governing rationale, citing biblical authority on abortion and invoking “nature and nature’s God” on parental rights, and describes his ideal representative as “constitutional, Christian, unapologetically conservative.”

Campaign and Endorsements

In 2024, Lamborn reported endorsements from the Bannock County Conservative Coalition, Mountain Valley Baptist Church, and the Pocatello-Chubbuck Observer, per his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. His 2026 campaign raised $21,631 in contributions through March 23, 2026, outpacing incumbent Cheatum’s $11,465 cash on hand at the same date, according to Idaho Sunshine records reported by Idaho Education News. As of the time of publication, Ballotpedia had not identified formal endorsements for his 2026 campaign.

Public Controversies

At a candidate forum in American Falls on April 29, 2024, when asked why he was running against Cheatum, Lamborn responded: “I’m from Seattle, and I know a Democrat when I see one.” A subsequent Idaho State Journal editorial criticized the remark as uncivil and questioned his connection to the district. Supporters disputed that characterization in published responses. After the 2024 primary, Cheatum told East Idaho News that he appreciated voters who could “see through all the mud-slinging and all of the disreputable attacks.”

FAQ

Who is James Floyd Lamborn, Idaho? James Floyd Lamborn is a Republican candidate running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 28A. He lives in American Falls in Power County and is challenging incumbent Rep. Rick Cheatum in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

What district is James Lamborn running in? Lamborn is running in Idaho House District 28A, which covers portions of Power, Bannock, and Bingham counties in southeastern Idaho.

Is James Lamborn an incumbent or challenger? Lamborn is a challenger with no prior elected office. He previously ran against Cheatum in the May 2024 Republican primary, finishing second with 33.2% of the vote.

What are James Lamborn’s political positions? Lamborn supports school choice, parental rights in education and healthcare, Constitutional Carry, opposition to abortion from conception, elimination or reduction of property and grocery taxes, and opposition to ranked-choice voting.

Who else is running in Idaho House District 28A in 2026? The Republican primary includes incumbent Rick Cheatum and challenger Mike Saville. Democrat Kim Jackman will appear on the November general election ballot.

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