No longer on the ballot
Emily Fisher withdrew from the November 3, 2026 general election on August 26, 2026 and will not appear on the ballot. This profile is kept for the record. Source: Idaho Secretary of State.
Emily Fisher
Idaho House of Representatives, District 23 Seat A
Emily Fisher: Idaho House District 23, Seat A
Emily Fisher won the Democratic primary for Idaho House District 23, Seat A with 730 votes, or 100 percent of the ballots cast, on May 19, 2026. She ran unopposed. Three months later, on August 26, 2026, she withdrew from the general election, and the November 3 race now goes forward with two candidates: Republican Chris Bruce and Constitution Party candidate Paul M. Smith.
Who she is
Fisher has lived in Kuna since 2015 and grew up on the outskirts of Ada County, according to her campaign site. Her family has lived in southern Idaho for more than 100 years, working as dairy farmers, ranchers, and horse trainers in the Burley area, and she describes herself as a fourth-generation Idaho hunter. She spent two years working for the Idaho Wildlife Federation, a nonpartisan conservation group that advocates on public land and sportsmen's issues.
Her education and work background sit outside politics. She graduated from Capital High School and earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Boise State University, with an emphasis in organizational and interpersonal communication. She worked in marketing, project management, and business development before starting her own business-coaching company in 2020. In 2024, she was a "Best of Boise" nominee for her work supporting local businesses.
Community work
Fisher's campaign biography lists a range of volunteer roles. She served as a public speaker and later one of two state trainers for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, presenting to groups across Idaho that included law enforcement and schools. She completed Idaho Master Naturalist requirements in 2023 and became an Idaho Master Gardener in 2024. She also volunteered with the Boise Entrepreneur Collective and the Wyakin Foundation, which supports veterans pursuing academic and career goals.
What she ran on
Fisher organized her campaign around four stated priorities: water, public land, and agriculture; fiscal responsibility; strong communities and public safety; and supporting local businesses first, per her campaign site.
On public lands, her position was direct. "I oppose any transfer, sale or privatization of public lands; and I am committed to preserving our access rights," she wrote. On water, she argued for prioritizing "agricultural and existing uses" ahead of new development demands, and said "out-of-state investment firms should not be allowed to buy and hold water rights."
On growth, she supported updating developer impact fees so new development reflects its real costs, and zoning policies that protect agricultural land. On education, she supported public school funding and criticized the state's $50 million private school tax credit.
She also described her motivation for running in a Nampa Chamber of Commerce candidate questionnaire, citing frustration with watching local development proceed while the Legislature spent time "debating issues the average Idahoan doesn't care about." Her campaign site summed up the pitch as "steady, community-focused leadership that puts long-term stability ahead of short-term politics."
The primary, the money, and the withdrawal
Fisher's May 19 primary win was uncontested, so the 730 votes she received represent the full Democratic primary turnout for the seat. Her campaign raised $404.14 in contributions during the cycle, all from in-state individual donors, and received $1,030.00 in loans, per her Sunshine campaign finance profile. Total expenditures came to $1,434.14, leaving $0.00 at the end. Her largest named contributor was Larry Faulkner of Boise at $200.00.
On August 26, 2026, Fisher withdrew from the general election. Her campaign site now carries only a short notice: "After much consideration, I have chosen to withdraw from the 2026 election. Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign in any way; please know I am still fighting the good fight, just in a different way for now."
What the November race looks like now
Her withdrawal removed the only Democrat from the ballot in District 23, Seat A. The November 3 general election now features two candidates: Republican Chris Bruce and Constitution Party candidate Paul M. Smith. No Democratic nominee remains in the race.
Sources
Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 26, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Emily Fisher on the November 2026 ballot?
- No. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed with 730 votes but withdrew from the general election on August 26, 2026.
- Who is running for House District 23, Seat A in November?
- Republican Chris Bruce and Constitution Party candidate Paul M. Smith. No Democratic nominee remains in the race.
- What is Emily Fisher's background?
- A Kuna resident since 2015 with family roots in the Burley area, she is a fourth-generation Idaho hunter, a Boise State University graduate, and a small business owner who ran a business-coaching company.
- What did she campaign on?
- Four priorities: water, public land, and agriculture; fiscal responsibility; strong communities and public safety; and supporting local businesses first.
- Did she raise campaign funds?
- Yes, a small amount. Her Sunshine filing shows $404.14 in contributions and $1,030.00 in loans, with $0.00 remaining after the campaign ended.