Barbara Ehardt

Barbara Ehardt is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 33, which covers portions of Idaho Falls and eastern Bonneville County. She is seeking reelection in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary and faces no primary opposition; the general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

Ehardt, a native of Idaho Falls, played collegiate basketball at University of Idaho and went on to a 25-year coaching career at the NCAA Division I level, including head coaching positions at Idaho, UC Santa Barbara, and Washington. She earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho and a master's from UC Santa Barbara. After retiring from coaching, she returned to Idaho Falls, where she has been active in local civic life.

Political Career

Ehardt was first elected to the Idaho House in 2018 and has served continuously since. She gained national attention in 2020 when she sponsored the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (H 500), one of the first state laws in the country to prohibit transgender women and girls from competing on female athletic teams in public schools and colleges. The law was signed by Governor Brad Little and has been embroiled in ongoing federal litigation. She has been a consistent conservative voice on social issues, education, and constitutional rights throughout her tenure.

Policy Positions

Ehardt's legislative record reflects a strong social conservative orientation. She has been a leading advocate for restricting transgender participation in women's sports and has supported related legislation limiting gender-affirming care for minors. She supports parental rights in education, school choice, and opposes what she characterizes as ideological content in public schools. She is a strong Second Amendment supporter and advocates for fiscal restraint in state budgeting. She has supported multiple measures to limit abortion access in Idaho.

Political Alignment

Ehardt is a consistent ally of the Idaho Freedom Foundation's legislative agenda, earning high scores on the IFF's Freedom Index in past sessions. She aligns with the dominant socially conservative faction of the Idaho House Republican caucus. Her sports-bill activism brought her to the attention of national conservative organizations, and she has appeared at events hosted by groups such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and Independent Women's Forum.

Campaign and Endorsements

Ehardt is running unopposed in the May 2026 primary. No major new endorsements have been publicly announced for this cycle beyond her existing support base within the conservative wing of the Idaho GOP. She is widely expected to win reelection in the heavily Republican District 33.