Brian McKellar

Brian McKellar: Far-Right Republican Challenger for House District 32B

Brian McKellar is a Far-Right Republican challenging appointed incumbent Erin Bingham for Idaho House District 32B in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary. McKellar, an Idaho Falls insurance and financial services businessman, has secured backing from the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s political action committee (IFPAC), placing him in the Idaho Legislature’s most ideologically conservative faction. His campaign centers on the argument that voters, not the governor, should choose their representative.

IFF/IFPAC Backing

McKellar has received an endorsement from IFPAC, the political action committee of the Idaho Freedom Foundation. The IFF is Idaho’s most influential far-right advocacy organization, known for its Freedom Index ratings that grade legislators on ideological purity, its opposition to Medicaid expansion, and its repeated conflicts with mainstream Republican leadership. IFPAC endorsements are a reliable signal of alignment with the IFF’s agenda, and candidates who carry IFPAC support typically campaign and vote as members of the Legislature’s hardline conservative bloc.

The Appointment Issue

McKellar’s challenge to Bingham is motivated in significant part by a principle that resonates strongly in conservative grassroots politics: elected officials should be chosen by voters, not appointed by governors. When Representative Wendy Horman departed in January 2026 to join the Trump administration, Governor Brad Little appointed Erin Bingham to fill the seat. The appointment, however well-credentialed the appointee, sidesteps the primary process and the voter ratification that gives legislators their democratic legitimacy.

This sentiment has driven competitive primaries against gubernatorial appointees across multiple Idaho districts in recent cycles. McKellar is channeling it directly: his campaign argues that Bonneville County Republicans deserve to choose their representative, not have one selected for them by the governor’s office.

Business Background

McKellar owned and operated McKellar LLC, an independent insurance agency in Idaho Falls, for 14 years before selling the business to Buckner Company in 2024. His background in insurance and financial services is a common pathway for Idaho Republicans seeking legislative office, reflecting the small business ownership profile that dominates the eastern Idaho Republican primary electorate.

Erin Bingham: The Appointed Incumbent

Bingham, appointed January 9, 2026, is the CFO of Bingham Ventures, a family-operated eastern Idaho development organization. Governor Little selected her to fill Horman’s vacant seat. She is now running for a full two-year term, which means building name recognition and grassroots support in the few months between her appointment and the May 19 primary.

FAQ Who is Brian McKellar? Brian McKellar is a Far-Right Republican challenging appointed incumbent Erin Bingham for Idaho House District 32B (Idaho Falls). He is backed by IFPAC, the political action committee of the Idaho Freedom Foundation. He owned and operated McKellar LLC, an independent insurance agency, for 14 years before selling to Buckner Company in 2024.

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026.