Brian Lenney

Brian Lenney: Idaho Republican Incumbent for Senate District 13

Brian Lenney is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate seeking a third term in District 13, which covers Nampa in Canyon County. Lenney lives in Nampa, where he has resided since 2010, and has represented the district since first taking office in December 2022. He faces a Republican primary challenge from Jeff Agenbroad in their third consecutive matchup. Letishia Silva is running in the Democratic primary and would advance to face the Republican nominee in November.

Background

Lenney was born in Corona, California, and moved to Nampa in 2010. He earned an associate degree from Riverside Community College in 2002, a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Dakota in 2007, and a master's degree from Biola University in 2010. His professional background includes work as a self-employed direct-response copywriter and consultant, a marketing manager with Millionaire Publishing, and a columnist with Townhall Media. He has done copywriting work for right-of-center organizations including the Citizens Alliance of Idaho, Idaho 2A Alliance, and the Health Freedom Defense Fund, as reported by the Idaho Press. He is also the author of two children's books: "Why Everyone Needs an AR-15: A Guide for Kids" and "Why is Feminism So Silly: A Guide for Kids," as documented by Wikipedia. He and his wife have four children.

Political Career

Lenney was first elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022, defeating longtime incumbent Jeff Agenbroad in the Republican primary by 15 points before winning the general election. He defeated Agenbroad again in the 2024 primary, 55.6% to 44.4%, before defeating Democrat Sarah Butler in the general election. He is a member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus, as confirmed by that organization and reported by the Idaho Press. He currently serves as vice chair of the Commerce and Human Resources Committee and also sits on the Health and Welfare and Judiciary and Rules committees, per his Idaho Legislature member page. In November 2023, Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder stripped Lenney of a previous committee vice chair position as part of a reprimand over editorials and comments Winder said attacked fellow senators, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. His 2025 legislative record included passing Idaho's first anti-SLAPP law (Senate Bill 1001), which created a process for judges to dismiss frivolous lawsuits targeting public participation, as reported by BoiseDev. He also passed a bill banning mask mandates (H32) and a bill limiting the powers of Idaho's public health districts (S1031). In the 2026 session, Lenney co-sponsored Senate Bill 1322, which tightened voter affidavit requirements by mandating that poll workers verify identifying information before issuing ballots, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. He separately introduced Senate Bill 1237 to eliminate voter affidavits as an alternative to photo ID entirely, though that bill did not advance. He also pushed through the teachers' union bill using a late-session procedural maneuver that rewrote House Bill 516 to ban schools from using public payroll systems to collect union dues, as reported by Idaho Education News. His own session recap also cites passage of an "American law for American courts" bill, which the Idaho Capital Sun confirmed was signed into law.

Policy Positions

Lenney's stated priorities center on limiting government, parental rights, immigration enforcement, opposition to government health mandates, and fiscal conservatism. He frames his candidacy in America First terms, describing support for nationalism in his 2021 Ballotpedia congressional survey as the foundation for economic protectionism and putting American workers first. He supports school choice, significant property tax reform, and reduced government spending. He has consistently opposed state budgets that include new spending, including voting against school and public safety enhancement budgets, as noted by the Idaho Press.

Political Alignment

Lenney is a Far-Right Extremist. He is a confirmed member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus and has done professional copywriting work for the Citizens Alliance of Idaho and the Idaho 2A Alliance. He consistently votes in alignment with IFF priorities, including against school and public safety budget enhancements. His legislative record spans banning mask mandates, limiting public health district authority, and using procedural maneuvers to advance teachers' union restrictions over the objection of committee chairs. He has publicly described the Idaho Legislature as controlled by "bureaucrats and lobbyists" and framed his role as an insurgent against the Republican governing class. His America First nationalist framing, documented in his own Ballotpedia candidate survey, further reinforces this classification.

Campaign and Endorsements

Lenney faces Jeff Agenbroad in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for the third consecutive cycle. Letishia Silva is running in the Democratic primary and would face the Republican nominee in November. He has received the 2025 CPAC Award for Conservative Excellence and a top ranking from Club for Growth, per his campaign announcement. Documented supporters include the Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC, Stop Idaho RINOs, Think Liberty Idaho PAC, Young Americans for Liberty, and the Canyon County Republican Central Committee, per campaign finance records. The general election is November 3, 2026.