Cornel Rasor

Cornel Rasor is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 1 Seat B, which covers Sandpoint, Sagle, Ponderay, and portions of Bonner County in North Idaho. Rasor was appointed by Gov. Brad Little on September 30, 2024 to replace Rep. Sage Dixon and subsequently won the 2024 Republican primary by approximately 4 percent over Chuck Lowman. He is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary in a rematch with Lowman. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

Rasor, 68, was born September 21, 1957 in Jackson, California, and has been an Idaho resident since early childhood, as described on his campaign biography. He grew up in Bonner County on his parents' cattle ranch, graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1974, and attended North Idaho College and the University of Idaho. He has managed the Army Surplus Store in Sandpoint for 41 years and has owned it for approximately the past two years. He is married to Kim Rasor; they have three children and 16 grandchildren.

Political Career

Before joining the legislature Rasor served as a Bonner County Commissioner from 2009 to 2013, including as chair from 2011 to 2012, as documented by Ballotpedia. He has been a Bonner County Republican precinct committeeman since 1996, served as Bonner County Republican Central Committee chair from approximately 2008 to 2012, and has served as Idaho Legislative District 7 (now District 1) chair from 2012 onward. His current committee assignments include Business, Health & Welfare, and Local Government. He is a member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus.

Policy Positions

Rasor centers his platform on what he describes as "a true pro-life advocate with no exceptions" and pledges "an uncompromising stand on the right of citizens to keep and bear arms." He supports reducing the state budget by returning state responsibilities to the private sector, parental control over education, and state management of federal lands. He has stated his approach to legislation is "from a purely constitutional standpoint." In 2026 he sponsored or co-sponsored Idaho's bathroom-access bill imposing criminal penalties for using restrooms inconsistent with biological sex, signed into law by Gov. Little in April 2026. The law faces a federal lawsuit, as reported by The 19th News. At a May 2026 candidate forum reported by the Sandpoint Reader, Rasor argued for further state income-tax cuts: "When you leave money in the hands of people who are providing jobs, infrastructure, housing and those kinds of things, they will invest it back."

Political Alignment

Rasor is Idaho Freedom Foundation-aligned. The Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index has scored Rasor at 91.8 percent (A-) on the freedom side with high marks on the spending side, among the highest in the chamber. He has signed the Citizens Alliance of Idaho pledge and been endorsed by Idaho Freedom PAC, Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC, Stop Idaho RINOs PAC, and the Bonner County Republican Central Committee.

Campaign and Endorsements

Independent expenditure filings on the Idaho Sunshine portal show approximately $4,423 in 2026 support for Rasor from the Bonner County Republican Central Committee and Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC. Idaho EdNews has documented that Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC draws substantial out-of-state funding, including a $450,000 transfer from a Virginia-based federal affiliate and Pennsylvania gaming-related sources. His 2026 Republican primary opponent Chuck Lowman is supported by North Idaho Republicans PAC.