Benjamin Donovan Chafetz

Benjamin Chafetz: Idaho Republican Candidate for Senate District 17

Benjamin Chafetz is a Republican who has run twice for the Idaho State Senate in District 17, a Boise-area legislative district. Chafetz lives in southwest Boise and is a challenger with no prior elected office. He ran against Democratic incumbent Carrie Semmelroth in both 2022 and 2024, losing both general elections. As of April 2026, Ballotpedia’s District 17 race page does not list Chafetz as a filed candidate for the May 2026 primary. This profile will be updated if he files.

Background

According to his Ballotpedia profile, Chafetz was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He earned a high school diploma from Winston Churchill High School and a bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University in 2011. He later earned a second bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Boise State University in 2018. He also lived in North Carolina and London before relocating to Boise, as reported by the Idaho Press. He has worked as an engineer and is a landlord in southwest Boise. He serves as a Republican precinct committeeman in his district.

In 2021, Chafetz co-founded Micron Employees for Religious Freedom (MERF), a nonprofit he has led as president. As reported by KIVI-TV, MERF formed shortly after Micron Technology announced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for U.S. employees and contractors. Chafetz stated the company’s only accommodation for employees seeking religious exemptions was unpaid leave, double masking, and daily testing. The Idaho Business Review reported that MERF assisted members in filing complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Idaho Human Rights Commission. The IHRC denied MERF’s request to intervene as a party in those proceedings.

Political Career

Chafetz has never held elected office. He first ran for Idaho State Senate District 17 in 2022, challenging Semmelroth, who had been appointed by Governor Brad Little to fill the seat. He won the Republican primary unopposed and lost the general election. He ran again in 2024, again winning the Republican primary unopposed, and again lost to Semmelroth in November.

Policy Positions

Chafetz has stated his priorities across candidate surveys, press interviews, and campaign materials over two election cycles.

On fiscal policy, his IDGOP candidate profile states that Idaho must lower taxes and stop accepting federal money, arguing that federal funding carries conditions he considers harmful to Idaho residents. In a 2022 candidate questionnaire published by the Idaho Press, he stated his goal was to lower taxes and eliminate regulations and mandates, describing Idaho as having the potential to be “the freest and most prosperous state in the nation.”

On individual liberty, Chafetz has argued that government must not direct personal medical decisions. His IDGOP profile states that government and corporations must not infringe on bodily autonomy, and that COVID-era policies “must never occur again in our state.”

On housing, his 2022 Ballotpedia candidate survey states that government affordable housing programs have not stabilized housing markets. He suggested business deregulation as an alternative path to affordability. On education, his BallotReady profile states that money should follow the student and that parents should have the right to choose educational alternatives for their children.

On property rights, his 2022 Ballotpedia survey describes his core governing principle as the right of Idahoans to manage their property and make their own decisions up to the point of infringing on another person. He stated that government’s role is primarily to resolve disputes rather than regulate individual conduct.

The Idaho Press reported that Chafetz also cited opposition to ESG investing criteria as a reason voters should prefer him.

Political Alignment

Chafetz appears aligned with the conservative activist wing of the Idaho Republican Party. Two documented indicators support this classification.

First, his IDGOP candidate profile includes a signed statement reading: “I have read the Idaho Constitution and the Idaho Republican Party Platform. I support the Idaho Republican Platform and accept it as the standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an officeholder should be evaluated.” This is an independent statement of personal endorsement of the platform as a governing standard, not merely a routine filing acknowledgment. Second, Idaho campaign finance records show his 2022 campaign received a $250 donation from state Sen. Scott Herndon, a figure publicly associated with Idaho’s far-right legislative bloc, and a $500 contribution from Idaho Chooses Life PAC. No documented endorsements from the Idaho Freedom Foundation or its affiliated legislators were identified during research.

Campaign and Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify formal organizational endorsements for Chafetz in either his 2022 or 2024 campaigns. His 2022 campaign was primarily self-funded, with Chafetz contributing $5,208 of his own money, according to Idaho campaign finance records. No endorsements from agricultural, law enforcement, or business organizations have been publicly reported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Benjamin Chafetz, Idaho? Benjamin Chafetz is a Boise-based Republican who ran for Idaho State Senate District 17 in 2022 and 2024. He is an electrical engineer, a southwest Boise landlord, and the co-founder and president of Micron Employees for Religious Freedom.

What district is Benjamin Chafetz running in? Chafetz has run in Idaho Senate District 17, which covers portions of southwest Boise in Ada County.

Is Benjamin Chafetz an incumbent or challenger? Chafetz has never held elected office. He is a challenger who lost to Democratic incumbent Carrie Semmelroth in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections.

What are Benjamin Chafetz’s political positions? Chafetz has stated support for tax reduction, elimination of government mandates, opposition to federal funding with policy conditions, school choice, and broad individual property rights. He has opposed COVID-era vaccine requirements in both corporate and government contexts.

Has Benjamin Chafetz won any elections? Chafetz won his Republican primary races in both 2022 and 2024, running unopposed each time. He has not won a general election.

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