Carissa Brewer
Idaho Senate, District 4
Carissa Brewer, Democratic nominee for Idaho Senate District 4
Carissa Brewer is the Democratic nominee for Idaho Senate District 4, on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. She won her May 19, 2026 primary unopposed with 1,310 votes. She faces Republican incumbent Ben Toews, a rematch of the 2024 general election, when she ran as Carissa Hober and lost to Toews 66.3% to 33.7%, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's election database.
Background
Brewer grew up in California, the third of four children; both of her parents were pharmacists, according to her campaign site. She earned a bachelor's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley, graduating with honors in three years, then a Doctor of Pharmacy from UC San Diego, with pharmacy rotations at the National Health Service in England and in psychiatric pharmacy at the National Institutes of Health.
In 2012 she moved to Idaho for a position as a clinical ambulatory care pharmacist at Kootenai Health, specializing in anticoagulation. She coached youth soccer for the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department and volunteered with local theater organizations Aspire and Lake City Playhouse.
In 2017 she was diagnosed with a spinal tumor, beginning what her campaign site calls a multi-year health battle that included thyroid surgery, hip surgeries, and diagnoses of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS. She writes that navigating the medical system as a patient reshaped her perspective and led her from being a healthcare provider to a "systemic advocate," and that she agreed to run for the Senate after community members approached her.
Stated priorities
Her campaign site lists three priorities. On healthcare: "As a clinical pharmacist, I know how critical safe, high-quality healthcare is. As a woman living with multiple invisible disabilities, I know how hard it is to fight for it." She commits to expanding affordable healthcare access and protecting reproductive freedoms.
On schools, she writes that Idaho should fund public education directly from the state level, stop relying on local property tax levies to keep schools functional, and repeal private school voucher programs.
On cost of living, she calls for affordable housing initiatives, raising the minimum wage, and shifting the state to a progressive tax structure aimed at lowering property tax burdens for working Idahoans.
Campaign
Her campaign site states it does not accept corporate PAC or out-of-state dark money contributions and describes itself as run by local volunteers and grassroots donors. Paula Neils is listed as the campaign's treasurer.
Sources
- Carissa Brewer campaign site, platform and stated priorities
- Carissa Brewer campaign site, personal and professional background
- Idaho Secretary of State elections database, 2024 candidate filing and election results for Senate District 4
Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 24, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhat district does Carissa Brewer hope to represent?
- AIdaho Senate District 4, covering the Coeur d'Alene area in Kootenai County. She is the Democratic nominee on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
- QWho is Carissa Brewer running against in 2026?
- ARepublican incumbent Ben Toews. It is a rematch of the 2024 general election, when Toews defeated her 66.3% to 33.7% while she ran as Carissa Hober.
- QWhat does Carissa Brewer do for a living?
- AShe is a clinical pharmacist. She moved to Idaho in 2012 to work as a clinical ambulatory care pharmacist at Kootenai Health, specializing in anticoagulation care.
- QWhy is she running for the Idaho Senate?
- AHer campaign site describes a health battle that began with a 2017 spinal tumor diagnosis and included diagnoses of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS. She writes that navigating the medical system as a patient turned her into a "systemic advocate," and that she ran after community members asked her to.
- QWhat are Brewer's positions on healthcare?
- AHer platform commits to expanding affordable healthcare access and protecting reproductive freedoms, writing: "As a clinical pharmacist, I know how critical safe, high-quality healthcare is. As a woman living with multiple invisible disabilities, I know how hard it is to fight for it."
- QWhat are Brewer's positions on schools and taxes?
- AShe wants the state to fund public education directly, end reliance on local property tax levies, and repeal private school voucher programs. On taxes, she supports raising the minimum wage and a progressive tax structure that lowers property tax burdens for working Idahoans.
- QDid Carissa Brewer run under a different name?
- AYes. The Idaho Secretary of State's database lists her 2024 candidacy under the name Carissa Hober.
- QHow is her campaign funded?
- AHer campaign site states it does not accept corporate PAC or out-of-state dark money contributions and is run by local volunteers and grassroots donors, with Paula Neils listed as treasurer.