Clay Handy

Clay Handy Runs Unopposed for a Third Term in the Idaho House

Rep. Clay Handy, R-Burley, will appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot with no opponent. No candidate filed against him in the May 19 primary either. Idaho Education News counted him among just seven of Idaho's legislative incumbents with no primary or general election challenger this cycle, in a roundup headlined "No Contest." Handy is completing his second term and seeking a third representing House District 27, Seat B, which covers part of the Mini-Cassia region in southern Idaho.

More than 35 years of local service before the House

Handy's official biography on the Idaho Legislature's website describes him as a fourth-generation Idahoan and Cassia County resident with more than 35 years of political and community service. The listed record includes eight years on the Burley City Council and eight years as a Cassia County commissioner. He spent 13 years on the Cassia Regional Hospital board, including eight as chairman, and served eight years as chairman of the Burley Area Development Association.

His transportation background runs through the list as well. He served twice as president of the Idaho Trucking Association, sat on various statewide and regional transportation advisory boards, and served on the Zions Bank Advisory Board and the South Idaho Community Action Board for eight years. He is a current member of the HEM board, according to his legislator page. Handy is married to Kristine Hansen. The couple has six children, and his biography lists hiking, skiing, fishing, and river rafting with family among his interests.

How he got to the House

Handy first won the seat in 2022. He took a five-way Republican primary with 41.4 percent of the vote, then ran unopposed in the general election and received 11,057 votes, per certified Idaho Secretary of State results. In 2024 he defeated Pat Field in the primary, 59.3 percent to 40.7 percent, and ran unopposed again in the general, receiving 17,453 votes.

Committee work in his second term

For the 2026 session, Handy is vice chair of the House Education Committee, according to the legislature's membership roster. He also serves on the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and the Transportation and Defense Committee.

On his campaign site he wrote, "My goal is not to dismantle state government but to make it efficient and effective and meet the needs of the citizens." He cited budget figures there, writing that Idaho's overall budget increase was "a mere 1.7%," that rainy-day funds are full, and that the state ranks 43rd in taxes paid per person.

The family trucking company

Handy owns Handy Truck Line, a Burley-based trucking and warehousing company his campaign site describes as third-generation. The company's own website says it has operated since 1928 and describes itself as "a leader in transportation and warehousing," hauling dry bulk, dry van, flatbed, and liquid freight from locations in Paul and Burley, Idaho, and other sites across the Northwest.

His campaign site connects the business directly to his legislative work, writing that as owner of the trucking company he is "familiar with balancing budgets, seeing unforeseen cost and planning to ensure the public infrastructure and services are run effectively and efficiently." The site also notes that Handy is helping his son become a farmer through an operation called Handy Farms.

His stated platform

The Idaho Republican Party's candidate page lists Handy's top three issues in his own words. On government growth, he said, "As a previous City Councilman, I believe that the most effective government is the one closest to home. I will support policies that allow cities, counties, and school districts to determine their own future." On public safety, he wrote, "I have a history of supporting law enforcement as a county commissioner and deeply value citizens' rights to keep and bear arms. I will aggressively support all measures to protect Idahoans and their freedom." On water, he wrote, "I will support all policies that ensure our district gets the water needed for our agricultural economy to continue to thrive."

His campaign site adds positions on several other topics. He backs parental involvement in medical decisions for children 13 and older, citing Senate Bill 1329, and supported creating an independent ombudsman for children in foster care. On law enforcement, he wrote that police salaries increased 10 percent while state employee wages rose 3 percent, and that he supports sending officers to assist Texas with the southern border.

Handy signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge for state legislative candidates in the 2026 cycle. The Idaho Republican Party's page also shows he has not submitted the party's "Integrity in Affiliation" form for this election cycle, a statement candidates can file affirming the party platform as the standard for evaluating their performance.

Sources

• Clay Handy campaign site
• Handy Truck Line
• Idaho State Legislature, official member page for Rep. Clay Handy
• Republican Party of Idaho candidate page
• Idaho Education News, "Ding-ding: Filing week ends with surprises, heavyweights and undercard shakeups"
• Idaho Secretary of State, certified 2022 and 2024 election results
• U.S. Term Limits, 2026 state legislature incumbent signers