Charlie Shepherd

Rep. Charlie Shepherd is a Republican state representative from Pollock, currently serving in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 7 Seat B. The district covers Idaho, Lewis, and Adams counties plus portions of Nez Perce County. He has held the seat since December 2020, succeeding his father former Rep. Paul Shepherd, as documented on his Ballotpedia profile. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

Background

Shepherd is a lifelong Idahoan from the Riggins-Pollock area. He grew up in Garden Valley before his family moved to the Riggins area his senior year, graduated from Salmon River High School in Riggins in 1986, and attended Boise State University as a football walk-on. His career spans approximately 10 years in the logging industry across Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Washington, 15 years in a family-owned sawmill and log-home business, and 18 years coaching football, basketball, and track at Salmon River High School, where his teams won multiple state championships before he stepped down in 2018, as documented on his Idaho Legislature member profile. He currently serves as Maintenance Supervisor at Salmon River Joint School District #243 and is a member of the District III Basketball Officials Association. He and his wife Susan have been married approximately 31 years and have four children and five grandchildren. He signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge.

Political Career

Shepherd was first elected in 2020 by defeating Cornel Rasor in the Republican primary 52.1 percent to 47.9 percent and running unopposed in the general election. He was re-elected unopposed in 2022 and defeated Larry Dunn in the 2024 Republican primary, roughly 60 to 40 percent. He serves as Vice Chair of the House Resources & Conservation Committee, with additional assignments on Revenue & Taxation and Transportation & Defense. He sponsored Senate Bill 1051, amending the Outfitters and Guides Act to provide protections from frivolous lawsuits, and a House Joint Memorial calling for minimum flows on the Snake River below Hells Canyon Dam to support river outfitters. During March 2021 debate on HB 226 (federal early-childhood-grant funding), Shepherd said, "I don't think anybody does a better job than mothers in the home, and any bill that makes it easier or more convenient for mothers to come out of the home and let others raise their child, I don't think that's a good direction for us to be going." He apologized on the House floor the following day, acknowledging his remarks "sounded derogatory or offensive and even sexist towards the mothers of this state," and later told KTVB he would change his vote if given the opportunity, citing curriculum concerns.

Policy Positions

Shepherd's stated priorities are tax reduction (continuing on the Revenue & Taxation Committee to lessen property-tax burdens), transportation funding for District 7 roads, and natural-resource policy that prioritizes Idahoans. In an Idaho County Free Press candidate statement he cited his record on tax cuts, medical freedom, women's sports and private-spaces protections, and a 60-percent increase in K-12 funding alongside property-tax relief through direct state payments. He has also supported increased timber harvesting on federal lands for revenue and wildfire reduction, Snake River minimum flows for outfitters, and full public-education operating and facility funding as a constitutional obligation. On his approach to the Legislature he has said, "I don't need a special interest group to tell me how to be a conservative," and asks voters to review his full record rather than single scorecards.

Political Alignment

Shepherd presents as a traditional rural Republican grounded in logging, sawmill, coaching, and school-district maintenance experience. He has been endorsed in 2026 by the Idaho Farm Bureau and the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association AUTO PAC, a top donor, and previously received hunting-outfitter endorsement in 2024 in connection with his outfitter and wildlife legislation.

Campaign and Endorsements

Shepherd is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against Maureen Anderson. Documented endorsements include the Idaho Farm Bureau and the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association AUTO PAC. The winner faces unopposed Democrat Pete Gertonson in the November 3, 2026 general election.