Chris Bruce

Chris Bruce: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 23A

Chris Bruce is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives serving District 23A, which covers the Kuna area and portions of Ada and Canyon counties, as well as all of Owyhee County. Bruce assumed office on December 1, 2024, after defeating incumbent Melissa Durrant in the 2024 Republican primary by 82 votes. He is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, where he faces a rematch against Durrant. Paul Smith of the Constitution Party is also running in the primary.

Background

Chris Bruce was born and raised in Georgia and has lived in Idaho for approximately a decade, according to his campaign website. His wife's roots in Idaho go back generations. He began his career in mortgage origination in 2001 and has since worked as a branch manager and loan officer with Premier Mortgage Resources, according to his Idaho Legislature member profile.

Bruce is a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and serves as a wellness advocate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Idaho and Montana Branch. He is a life group leader at Changed Life church, a coach and umpire with Kuna Youth Softball Baseball Association, and has served on the Superintendent's Advisory Council for the Kuna Joint School District. He and his wife Kyrsti have been married more than 20 years and have two sons.

Political Career

Bruce ran unsuccessfully for the Idaho House twice before winning in 2024. He lost the District 22A Republican primary to incumbent John Vander Woude in 2020, and lost the District 23A Republican primary to incumbent Melissa Durrant in 2022. He won the 2024 Republican primary against Durrant by 82 votes and ran unopposed in the general election.

As a state representative, Bruce has supported bills restricting healthcare access for transgender people, according to Human Rights Campaign tracking. He is part of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) network and attended the ALEC Annual Conference in July 2025, according to Follow the Money records.

Policy Positions

Bruce's campaign website focuses on four core priorities:

• Ending Property Tax Burden: Supports eliminating the homeowner's property tax to provide relief to Idaho residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes.
• Protecting Parental Rights: Believes parents have the primary role in their children's education and advocates for expanded educational choices including homeschooling, private schooling, and public charter schools.
• Protecting the Vulnerable: Opposes abortion and supports policies protecting children from what he characterizes as inappropriate content and from healthcare interventions related to gender transition.
• Protecting Your Rights: Supports gun rights and opposes what he characterizes as government overreach.

Candidate Q&A

We sent a questionnaire to all legislative candidates asking about their top priorities, views on abortion, gun policy, education funding, and other issues. This section will be updated if the candidate responds.