Clay Handy

Clay Handy: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 27B

Clay Handy is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives seeking a third term in District 27B, which covers Cassia, Minidoka, and Oneida Counties in south-central Idaho. Handy lives in Burley and has represented the district since December 2022. He is running without a primary or general election challenger in 2026, as confirmed by Idaho Education News.

Background

Handy is a fourth-generation Idahoan and lifelong Cassia County resident. He earned an associate degree in general studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho and a bachelor's degree in business management from Brigham Young University, as noted on Ballotpedia. He is president of Handy Truck Line, Inc., a multi-state trucking and wholesale company his grandfather founded in 1928 with two milk trucks, which now operates 150 trucks and 180 employees across multiple states, as described in his Idaho Republican Party candidate profile. He has served twice as president of the Idaho Trucking Association and has held positions on the Zions Bank Advisory Board, the South Idaho Community Action Board, and various statewide and regional transportation advisory boards. He is married to Kristine Hansen and they have six children. His public service record before entering the Legislature spans more than 35 years: eight years on the Burley City Council, eight years as a Cassia County Commissioner, 13 years on the Cassia Regional Hospital Board including eight as chairman, eight years as chairman of the Burley Area Development Association, and current chairmanship of the Cassia Regional Hospital Foundation, as described on his Idaho Legislature member page.

Political Career

Handy won election to the Idaho House in 2022, winning a five-way Republican primary before running unopposed in the general election, as documented on Ballotpedia. He defeated Pat Field in the 2024 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the 2024 general election. He currently serves as vice chair of the House Education Committee and also sits on the Judiciary, Rules and Administration and Transportation and Defense committees, per his Idaho Legislature member page. His legislative priorities have included law enforcement support, transportation funding, fentanyl sentencing, and human trafficking legislation.

Policy Positions

Handy's publicly stated priorities, drawn from his campaign website and Idaho Republican Party candidate profile, center on limited government, public safety, transportation infrastructure, Second Amendment rights, and local control. On government, he has stated his belief that the most effective government is the one closest to home and has committed to supporting policies that allow cities, counties, and school districts to determine their own futures. On public safety, he has highlighted his support for law enforcement salary increases, mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking legislation, and Second Amendment rights. On transportation, he has committed to ensuring adequate funding for Idaho's transportation infrastructure for safety, efficiency, and productivity.

Political Alignment

Handy is a Traditional Conservative Republican. He has described his philosophy as "common sense conservatism that cuts through the extremism and division that defines politics today," as stated in his Idaho Republican Party candidate profile. His deep roots in local government, his business background, and his record of broad community service reflect the governing conservative tradition of rural Idaho Republicanism.

Campaign and Endorsements

Handy is running without a primary or general election challenger in 2026, as confirmed by Idaho Education News. He has signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. No formal organizational endorsements for his 2026 campaign had been publicly reported at the time of publication. The general election is November 3, 2026.