Carl Bjerke

Carl Bjerke: Idaho Republican Incumbent for Senate District 5

Carl Bjerke is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate representing District 5, which covers the Coeur d’Alene area of Kootenai County. Bjerke lives in Coeur d’Alene and has represented the district since December 2022. He is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary. Democrat Adam Chapman is running in the Democratic primary for the general election. Bjerke is seeking his third term.

Background

Bjerke was born in 1962 in Long Beach, California. He earned an Associate of Science degree in respiratory therapy and a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership, per his Idaho Legislature biography. He worked briefly as a respiratory therapist before beginning a 32-year career in public safety with the Santa Monica Fire Department, from which he retired as deputy chief of operations, managing all fire department operational divisions including its EMS system. He also served seven years on the management team for the Los Angeles Marathon and as a trustee for the Santa Monica Fire Department Health Benefits Trust.

Bjerke and his wife Lesli purchased property in Kootenai County in 2014, began building in 2016, and moved to Coeur d’Alene in July 2017, per his IDGOP candidate profile. They have two adult children: a son who is a firefighter in Meridian and a daughter who is a graphic designer and entrepreneur in Coeur d’Alene. Lesli Bjerke is a retired teacher, small business owner, and elected member of the Coeur d’Alene School Board.

Political Career

Bjerke was first elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022, defeating incumbent Peter Riggs in the Republican primary and winning the general election, per Ballotpedia. He was re-elected in 2024, defeating Cheri Zao in the Republican primary and Democrat Adam Chapman in the general election.

He currently serves as vice chair of the Finance Committee and sits on the Health and Welfare Committee, per his Idaho Legislature biography.

Bjerke signed the Citizens Alliance of Idaho pledge, as reported by Idaho Education News. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC listed him among its supported candidates in the 2024 primary cycle, per the CAI PAC website.

His most prominent legislative work has centered on Medicaid cost containment. In the 2025 session, he co-sponsored House Bill 345, which required Idaho to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements and managed care privatization, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. He also served on the Idaho DOGE task force, where he argued that Medicaid expansion was not working and supported recommending its repeal, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Policy Positions

Bjerke’s stated priorities draw from his 2022 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey and his IDGOP candidate profile.

On the role of government, Bjerke has written that government’s primary role is protecting the rights of citizens rather than serving special interests, and that he is personally motivated to fight government overreach and return power to Idahoans. On healthcare, he supports Medicaid cost containment through work requirements, managed care reform, and reducing enrollment among those he characterizes as able-bodied workers who should be in the job market. He has stated he wants to limit the amount of money Idaho takes from the federal government and create programs that incentivize workers to return to employment.

On social issues, his IDGOP candidate profile describes priorities including protecting the unborn, ending what he characterizes as indoctrination in schools, and opposing the sexualization of children through materials in curriculum and libraries. On small business, he has stated he will legislate to support small businesses, citing losses during the pandemic as a motivating concern.

Political Alignment

Bjerke is a Conservative Activist. He is a documented signer of the Citizens Alliance of Idaho pledge, per Idaho Education News, and was backed by the CAI PAC in his 2024 primary. His 2022 entry into politics came by defeating a more moderate Republican incumbent, consistent with the activist wave of that primary cycle. His Medicaid reform work on the state DOGE task force, his co-sponsorship of Medicaid work requirement legislation, and his alignment with the CAI-affiliated legislative network reflect the activist conservative classification.

Campaign and Endorsements

Bjerke is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC supported his 2024 primary campaign. Ballotpedia did not identify additional formal endorsements for his 2022 or 2024 campaigns. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State’s Sunshine database.

FAQ

Who is Carl Bjerke, Idaho? Carl Bjerke is a Republican Idaho State Senator representing District 5 in Coeur d’Alene. A retired deputy chief of the Santa Monica Fire Department, he was first elected in 2022 and currently serves as vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

What district does Carl Bjerke represent? Bjerke represents Idaho State Senate District 5, covering the Coeur d’Alene area of Kootenai County.

Is Carl Bjerke an incumbent? Yes. Bjerke was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. He is seeking his third term and is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary.

What committees does Carl Bjerke serve on? Bjerke serves as vice chair of the Finance Committee and sits on the Health and Welfare Committee, per his Idaho Legislature biography.

What has Carl Bjerke focused on in the Idaho Legislature? Bjerke has focused primarily on Medicaid cost containment. He co-sponsored HB 345 requiring Idaho to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements and served on the Idaho DOGE task force where he supported recommending Medicaid expansion repeal.

2022 Primary Election Results Bjerke defeated Riggs

2022 General Election Results Bjerke won

2024 Primary Election Results Bjerke defeated Zao

2024 General Election Results Bjerke 21,404 / Chapman 5,557

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