Casey Hess

Casey Hess: Idaho Democratic Candidate for House District 21A

Casey Hess is a Democratic candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives District 21A, which covers portions of Meridian in Ada County. Hess lives in Meridian and is running in the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary against fellow Democrat Camille Allan. The winner will face Republican incumbent James Petzke in the November 3, 2026, general election. This is her second consecutive campaign for the seat, having lost the 2024 general election to Petzke.

Background

Hess grew up in Lewis County and has lived in the Treasure Valley since the 1990s. She has worked in customer service for decades and has owned a small business in Meridian for more than ten years, as she described to KIVI-TV during the 2024 campaign. She describes her years of customer service and business ownership as giving her practical experience in compromise, communication, and problem-solving.

Political Career

Hess has not previously held elected office. She ran for Idaho House District 21A in 2024, winning the Democratic primary before losing the general election to Petzke, 17,558 to 8,159. She filed again for the 2026 primary, which she is contesting against Camille Allan.

Policy Positions

Hess's documented positions draw from her 2024 KIVI-TV interview and her 2024 campaign materials. On healthcare, Hess has made reproductive rights her central campaign issue. She told KIVI-TV that her biggest goal would be making it safe and legal for all Idahoans to receive any necessary healthcare, and that Idaho's move to ban abortion without a ballot measure was a mistake. She has described the extreme conservative agenda as a danger to women and has stated she would work to ensure bodily autonomy for everyone in the state. On education, Hess said she disagrees with recent social and moral legislation and would prefer to focus on public school funding, stating that Democratic beliefs about funding education and raising good stewards of society should not be a partisan issue.

Political Alignment

Hess is a Liberal Democrat. Her campaign has centered on reproductive rights, opposition to social legislation targeting women and minority communities, and public school funding. Her explicit framing of reproductive healthcare as her primary motivation and her critique of the conservative legislative agenda reflect positioning within the progressive wing of Idaho's Democratic Party.

Campaign and Endorsements

Hess is competing in the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary for District 21A against Camille Allan. Her campaign Facebook page is Casey Hess for Idaho State Representative. No organizational endorsements for her 2024 or 2026 campaigns have been documented in available sources. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine database.