Idaho General Election · November 3, 2026Find polling place
Republican

Ben G. Fuhriman

Incumbent
Ben G. Fuhriman

Idaho House of Representatives, District 30 Seat B

Campaign website:Campaign Website
Phone:(208) 332-1038
Email:BFuhriman@house.idaho.gov
Facebook:Campaign Facebook Page
Twitter / X:Twitter / X
Campaign finance:Campaign Finance

Ben G. Fuhriman: Republican Incumbent for Idaho House District 30 Seat B

Ben Fuhriman won his first term in the Idaho House of Representatives by 4 votes. A 2024 recount confirmed the margin over Julianne Young in the District 30 Seat B Republican primary, and Fuhriman told the Idaho Capital Sun in March 2026 that the experience "was one of the most stressful times of my life." Two years later, the two faced each other again. Fuhriman won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 4,476 votes to Young's 3,763, a 54.33 percent to 45.67 percent margin, according to results certified by the Idaho Secretary of State.

The 2026 General Election

Fuhriman is the Republican incumbent seeking a second term representing Idaho House District 30, Seat B, on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. His opponent is Democrat Bree Buckingham, per certified candidate filings with the Idaho Secretary of State.

Background

Fuhriman was born and raised in Ammon, Idaho, according to his campaign website. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated as valedictorian of Hillcrest High School's class of 2002. He then completed a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in São Paulo, Brazil.

He met his wife, Holli, at BYU-Idaho, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He later completed a master's degree in family financial planning from Montana State University. The couple lives in Shelley with their four children.

Fuhriman holds three professional credentials: Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Financial Counselor, and Behavioral Financial Advisor, all listed on his campaign website. He owns a financial-planning firm based in Idaho Falls. His official Idaho Legislature biography also lists board service with the Boy Scouts Grand Teton Council and a board seat with Development Workshop in Idaho Falls.

Committee Assignments

Fuhriman serves on three House committees in his first term, according to the Idaho Legislature's official member page: Commerce and Human Resources; Environment, Energy and Technology; and Health and Welfare.

Legislative Record

Special education funding has been a focus of Fuhriman's first term. He told the Idaho Capital Sun in March 2026, "I don't want to go back to the '50s and '60s, where we take people who are different than us and we throw them in an institution and just forget about them." On federal funding for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, he said, "The expectation was always 40%. We're currently receiving around 12% of our total funding needs from the federal government."

Fuhriman voted against House Bill 93 in 2025, which created a parental-choice tax credit for private-school expenses. The House passed the bill 42 to 28 on February 7, 2025. He described his reasoning to the Idaho Capital Sun: "For me, it was more about priorities than it was about whether or not we should be subsidizing private schools at all." In a May 2026 interview with the same outlet, he said, "I did not support the parental choice tax credit bill when it was first passed because it lacked sufficient accountability, and at the time we were not adequately funding our public schools—especially high-needs special education. That remains true today." He added, "I believe we should prioritize meeting those core and constitutional obligations first."

In 2026, Fuhriman opposed House Bill 745, a bill restricting the use of union dues. "I fought that bill in committee and I fought it on the floor," he told the Idaho Capital Sun. He also said, "I really felt like it was a deliberate target at teachers," and, "I'm sick and tired of us treating our teachers like they're second-rate citizens."

His floor votes also include several party-aligned measures from the 2025 and 2026 sessions: he voted for House Bill 41, which restricts flags and banners displayed in schools; House Bill 264, which regulates bathroom access in state facilities; and Senate Bill 1198, which restricts diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education.

Fuhriman also co-sponsored House Bill 146 in 2025, which requires light-mitigation technology on wind turbines. He was a co-sponsor of the bill, which another legislator carried as lead sponsor.

Stated Positions

Fuhriman described his approach to the job in the March 2026 Idaho Capital Sun interview. "I'm not here to make headlines, I'm not here to make waves," he said. He added, "I'm not here to change the culture. That's not my goal. My goal is to solve real problems and help my district."

He described his broader approach to public service in a May 2026 interview with the Idaho Capital Sun: "I approach public service the same way I approach my work and my family life: be accessible, be honest, and focus on solving real problems." On a possible second term, he said he would work "to reduce property tax pressure by improving how we fund schools, infrastructure, and our emergency services at the state level so local taxpayers are not forced to carry the burden."

This year's state budget cuts drew his criticism. "Treating every agency and program the same fails to prioritize core responsibilities and can create unintended consequences," Fuhriman said. He said he helped push to restore funding to a cut Medicaid mental health program during the 2026 session.

On state-mandated cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, Fuhriman said, "I do not believe in one-size-fits-all mandates from the state."

Endorsement and Independent Expenditures

The Idaho Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Fuhriman's 2026 campaign. Separate from endorsements, the Idaho Dairy Industry PAC and five other groups made a combined $47,525 in independent expenditures supporting his campaign, as reported by East Idaho News. Independent expenditures are spending by outside groups not coordinated with a campaign.

Campaign Finance

Fuhriman's 2026 campaign finance filings with the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine portal show a beginning cash balance of $5,500.23. Total contributions reached $81,648.96, while total expenditures were $85,561.34, leaving an ending cash balance of $5,311.23. The campaign carried outstanding debt of $6,470.20 as of the last filed report.

The Idaho Hospital Association PAC gave $2,000, the largest single contribution listed. Other $1,000 donors include Idaho Power, St. Luke's Health Plan, and several Idaho farms and businesses.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 30, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office does Ben Fuhriman hold?
He is the Republican state representative for Idaho House District 30, Seat B, first elected in 2024. He is seeking a second term in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Who is running against Ben Fuhriman in 2026?
Democrat Bree Buckingham is his opponent on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
How close was Fuhriman's first election?
He won the 2024 Republican primary over Julianne Young by 4 votes after a recount. In their May 19, 2026 rematch, Fuhriman won 4,476 votes to Young's 3,763, per certified Idaho Secretary of State results.
What does Ben Fuhriman do for a living?
He owns a financial-planning firm based in Idaho Falls and holds three credentials: Certified Financial Planner, Accredited Financial Counselor, and Behavioral Financial Advisor.
What committees does Fuhriman serve on?
He sits on the House Commerce and Human Resources, Environment Energy and Technology, and Health and Welfare committees.
Has Fuhriman received any endorsements?
The Idaho Fraternal Order of Police endorsed his 2026 campaign. Separately, the Idaho Dairy Industry PAC and five other groups made a combined $47,525 in independent expenditures supporting his campaign.

Also on the ballot in District 30

Every candidate for the State Senate and both House seats in this district. See the full District 30 page.