Connor Cook

Connor Cook: Idaho Republican Candidate for House District 33A

Connor Cook is a Republican candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 33A, challenging four-term incumbent Representative Barbara Ehardt in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary. Cook lives in Idaho Falls and has not previously held elected office. The Democratic primary features Miranda Marquit and Chance Marshall, per Ballotpedia.

Background

Cook is a third-generation Idahoan who has worked as a firefighter and paramedic with the Idaho Falls Fire Department for approximately ten years. Before relocating to Idaho Falls, he began his public safety career as a paramedic in Charleston, South Carolina, per his campaign website. He is a homeowner in the numbered streets neighborhood of Idaho Falls and a union member. His girlfriend, Allie, is an Idaho State Police Trooper. The Post Register reported his candidacy in March 2026, confirming his employment history and local ties.

Political Career

Cook has not previously held elected office. His 2026 House candidacy is his first campaign for public office.

Policy Positions

Cook’s documented positions draw from his campaign website, his March 2026 candidacy announcement covered by the Post Register, and a detailed Idaho Education News profile published in April 2026.

On public safety, Cook supports stable funding for the Idaho State Police to address recruitment and retention, full funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children program, and adequate resources for rural and growing communities. He told Idaho Education News that he sees firsthand, as a firefighter and paramedic, the impacts of cuts to Medicaid, the Idaho State Police, and public education.

On education, Cook told the Post Register: “Education is not a talking point, it is the key to a strong economy.” He supports career and technical education, expanded apprenticeship programs, the Idaho Launch workforce development program, and local school district control.

On infrastructure, Cook has called for legislative investment in roads, water systems, and long-term planning to address eastern Idaho’s rapid growth.

On local control, Cook told Idaho Education News that the Legislature is taking away authority from counties, cities, and school districts. He described legislation targeting bathroom access for transgender people and mandatory moments of silence as distractions from the state budget, stating: “People feel like the state of Idaho has just gone rogue and is doing whatever they want.”

On fiscal policy, Cook has called for responsible budgeting, prioritizing essential services, and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens on small businesses.

Political Alignment

Cook presents a Traditional Conservative Republican profile with explicit emphasis on practical governance over social legislation. His framing throughout the campaign distinguishes him from the activist wing of the Idaho Republican Party: he has characterized recent social legislation as political distraction, defended local control against state overreach, and centered his candidacy on public safety, infrastructure, and workforce investment. His union membership and blue-collar background are also relatively unusual for a Republican legislative candidate in the Idaho Falls area. As a first-time candidate with no legislative record, this classification is based entirely on his documented positions.

Campaign and Endorsements

Cook announced his candidacy in March 2026. He has raised $11,075 for his campaign against Ehardt’s $13,792, with Ehardt holding an additional $24,657 carried over from previous election cycles, as reported by Idaho Education News. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC has reported $25,165 in independent expenditures supporting Ehardt, per the same Idaho Education News report. No organizational endorsements for Cook have been publicly reported as of April 2026. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State’s Sunshine database.

FAQ

Who is Connor Cook, Idaho? Connor Cook is a Republican candidate for Idaho House District 33A in Idaho Falls. A firefighter and paramedic with the Idaho Falls Fire Department for more than ten years, he is challenging four-term incumbent Barbara Ehardt in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary.

What district is Connor Cook running in? Cook is running in Idaho House District 33A, which covers part of Bonneville County in the Idaho Falls area.

Is Connor Cook an incumbent or challenger? He is a challenger with no prior legislative experience, running against four-term incumbent Barbara Ehardt.

What are Connor Cook’s political positions? Cook supports stable public safety funding, career and technical education, the Idaho Launch program, infrastructure investment for growing communities, and local control. He has characterized recent social legislation as a distraction from the state budget.

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.