Doug Ricks

Doug Ricks: Republican Nominee for Idaho Senate District 34

Sen. Doug Ricks, a three-term incumbent, won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for Idaho Senate District 34 without opposition, receiving 3,858 votes, according to certified Idaho Secretary of State results. He faces Democrat Ethan Sanford in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Background

Ricks is a fifth-generation Rexburg resident and a graduate of Ricks College and BYU-Idaho, according to his official Idaho Legislature biography. He is a retired university assistive-technology specialist, small-business owner, and real-estate investor. He has served as a precinct committeeman and, in his own words to East Idaho News, previously "served as chairman of the Madison County Republican Central Committee, and Region 7 Republican Chairman." He and his wife, Melissa, have five children and four grandchildren.

Legislative Record

Ricks chairs the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee and also serves on Judiciary and Rules, per the Legislature's 2026 roster; he has also described himself as vice chairman of the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board. He was the Senate sponsor of House Bill 521, which he told East Idaho News was "the largest-ever state investment in school facilities" and which directed $23 million to the Madison School District and $7.3 million to the Sugar-Salem School District. He was also an author and the Senate sponsor of House Bill 292, which he said "reduced property taxes for Idaho homeowners by approximately 18 percent," with an average reduction of 13.9 percent for all Madison County property taxpayers, including commercial property. He has also pointed to the Legislature's reduction of the state income tax rate "from 6.95% down to a flat tax of 5.695%, which is an 18% cut." On his work for the district, he told East Idaho News he has worked with the Idaho Transportation Department to repave Rexburg's Main Street and modernize its traffic signals, and sponsored legislation allowing cities to install broadband fiber for local providers to use.

On his Idaho GOP candidate page, Ricks lists education as an ongoing priority, saying that following the state's dyslexia law, "I will follow up to ensure students have adequate assistive technology resources for those identified with dyslexia in K-12 schools."

Endorsements

When Ricks first ran for the Senate seat in 2020, he was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, who said, "Representative Doug Ricks has shown the voters of District 34 that he cares deeply about improving education, strengthening economic development and promoting strong family values," and by his predecessor, then-Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, who said, "He is a hardworking, 5th generation Idahoan and is well respected by his colleagues in the legislature... Doug is firm in his support for education, lower taxes, and a stronger economy." Ricks also earned an "A" rating and endorsement from the National Rifle Association that cycle, according to his campaign website.

Electoral History

Ricks was first elected to the Idaho House in 2018, defeating Rep. Ron Nate in a primary rematch after narrowly losing to him in 2016, and won the seat unopposed in the general election. In 2020, he won the Republican primary for the Senate seat vacated by Brent Hill with 70% of the vote against Jacob Householder and won the general unopposed. He ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections in 2022, and in 2024 he won the general election with 86% of the vote against Democrat Marsha Craner, according to Idaho Secretary of State canvass records. He ran unopposed again in his 2026 primary.

Campaign Finance

Ricks's 2026 campaign finance filings with the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine portal show a beginning cash balance of $29,458.03, total contributions of $20,025.00, and total expenditures of $12,269.51, leaving an ending cash balance of $30,720.23 and no debt. His largest contributor is the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation PAC ($1,500.00), followed by $1,000 contributions from the Idaho AGC State Political Action Committee, the Senate Republican PAC of Idaho, Syringa Networks, Altria Client Services, and Rexburg residents Richard and Peggy Larsen.

Sources

• Idaho Secretary of State, certified results for the May 19, 2026 primary election
• Idaho Secretary of State, election canvass database
• Idaho State Legislature, 2026 member page for Doug Ricks
• East Idaho News, candidate questionnaire (October 28, 2024)
• Idaho Republican Party, candidate page for Doug Ricks
• Doug Ricks for Idaho Senate, campaign website
• Idaho Secretary of State Sunshine portal, 2026 campaign finance filings for Doug Ricks