Annie Haws

Anne Henderson Haws: Idaho House District 16, Seat B

Anne Henderson Haws, the Democratic incumbent for Idaho House District 16, Seat B, appeared on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot against Republican Chandler Stewart Hadraba. Haws has held the seat since July 2025, when Gov. Brad Little appointed her to fill a vacancy. She has never faced voters for this seat before and sought her first full elected term. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed with 2,736 votes, according to certified Idaho Secretary of State results.

Background

Haws was born in Nampa, Idaho. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Lewis and Clark College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law. She works as an attorney at Holland & Hart, where she specializes in business, environmental, and employment litigation.

Her legal career includes a judicial law clerk position with the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho College of Law. Her official biography lists several honors: the Idaho State Bar Service Award in 2024, the University of Idaho College of Law Rising Star Award in 2024, and Mountain States Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Business Litigation in 2024 and 2025. She chairs the Idaho Women Lawyers Judicial Committee, serves on the Idaho Legal Aid Services Board of Directors, and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Her appointment

Little appointed Haws on July 22, 2025. The seat opened after former Rep. Todd Achilles resigned on July 1 to run for U.S. Senate as an independent, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Her term runs through the end of 2026.

At the time of her appointment, Haws said: "We need to work with our peers in the Legislature to focus on what really matters. That means investing fully in our kids, supporting working people, and protecting the Idaho we believe in, not the one being shaped by special interests."

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel called her "a strong addition to the Democratic caucus and a powerful advocate for working families."

Before her appointment, Haws served as lead counsel for Idahoans United for Women and Families, a group seeking to qualify a ballot initiative for the 2026 general election, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.

Campaign finance

Through the 2026 election cycle, Haws has raised $34,675.00 in total contributions and spent $20,474.11, according to Idaho's Sunshine campaign finance portal. Her campaign reports an ending cash balance of $14,200.89 and no outstanding debt. Most of her funding, $31,800.00, came from in-state contributors.

Sources

• Official Idaho Legislature biography, Rep. Anne Henderson Haws
• Idaho Capital Sun, appointment report
• Idaho Education News, appointment report
• Idaho Sunshine campaign finance portal, candidate profile
• Idaho Secretary of State, certified May 19, 2026 primary results