Brian McKellar

Brian McKellar is a Republican candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives seeking District 32 Seat B, which covers portions of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. McKellar is challenging incumbent Rep. Erin Bingham, paired with Kelly Golden in Seat A. The Republican primary is May 19, 2026, and the general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

McKellar is a lifelong Idaho Falls resident, as described on his campaign biography. He earned a bachelor's degree in math education from Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, attending from 2007 to 2011. Per Post Register coverage of his February 25, 2026 campaign announcement, he founded and operated McKellar LLC, an independent insurance agency, for more than 14 years before selling the business to The Buckner Company, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based firm, in 2024. He now serves as the sole Idaho employee-benefits producer at Buckner. He is married with two children, serves on the Executive Board for Scouting America in Idaho Falls, and serves on the Snake River Montessori School board.

Political Career

McKellar has not previously held elected office. His primary opponent, Rep. Erin Bingham, was appointed by Gov. Brad Little in January 2026 to replace Rep. Wendy Horman, who took a Trump administration role, as documented by Ballotpedia.

Policy Positions

McKellar centers his platform on healthcare cost reduction (citing his insurance brokerage background), education "modernization" including parental choice, fiscal accountability, and addressing what he describes as a $1 billion state deficit by cutting inefficiencies. From his campaign site: "We can't wait on Washington — Idaho can lead on lowering costs now. My bill to cut out-of-pocket expenses by 10% proves it." Per his iVoterGuide questionnaire responses, McKellar self-identifies as "Very Conservative." He "Strongly Agrees" that "Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse," that "biological males should not participate in women's sports or occupy women's spaces," that human life deserves legal protection from conception, and supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. He notes a personal faith-based affirmation of marriage as between one man and one woman alongside a view that government should remain neutral to protect religious liberty, as published on his Idaho GOP candidate page. He has indicated support for term limits.

Political Alignment

McKellar is Idaho Freedom Foundation-aligned. Idaho Freedom PAC has endorsed McKellar on its 2026 primary slate. Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC is filing independent expenditures supporting his campaign. Idaho EdNews has reported that Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC draws substantial out-of-state funding, including a $450,000 transfer from a Virginia-based federal affiliate and Pennsylvania gaming-related sources. An April 15, 2026 NewsTalk 107.9 debate between Bingham and McKellar surfaced differences on internet-crimes-against-children funding and kratom regulation.

Campaign and Endorsements

Independent expenditure filings on the Idaho Sunshine portal show approximately $15,680 in 2026 support for McKellar from Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC and Idaho Summit PAC. McKellar self-funded $15,100 of the $36,230 raised by his own committee. Other notable donors include Doyle Beck personally ($1,000), Smith, Driscoll & Associates PLLC ($1,000), and The Buckner Company of Salt Lake City, Utah ($1,000). He is endorsed by Idaho Freedom PAC. A Post Register letter to the editor has raised concerns about the sources of out-of-state money flowing into the District 32 race.