Greg Ferch

Greg Ferch: Idaho Republican Candidate for House District 22A

Greg Ferch is a Republican challenger running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 22A in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. Ferch, of Kuna, is a former one-term state representative, U.S. Army veteran, and Boise chiropractor returning to electoral politics after a four-year absence. He faces fellow Republican Kelly Walton in the primary for a seat that opened when eight-term Rep. John Vander Woude announced he would not seek reelection. District 22A covers a Nampa-area corridor in Canyon County.

Background

Greg Ferch grew up in Kenmare, North Dakota, graduating from Kenmare High School in 1984. He earned a Bachelor of Science in human biology from the University of North Dakota in 1989 and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 1993, according to his official Idaho Legislature biography. He served as a U.S. Army medic from 1983 to 1994, including activation during Desert Storm. After retiring from the military, Ferch opened a chiropractic clinic in Boise in 1994.

He has served in leadership roles with the Idaho Association of Chiropractic Physicians, including on the Idaho State Board of Chiropractic Physicians peer review committee, and was named Chiropractor of the Year in 2015 and 2021. Ferch is also a real estate investor and has been recognized as the Idaho Apartment Association’s Independent Rental Operator of the Year. He is a lifetime NRA member. As of his 2026 campaign announcement, Ferch serves as Chairman of the Central District Health Board and as Chairman of District 22 Republicans, according to the Gem State Chronicle.

Political Career

Ferch was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 2020, representing District 21B in southeast Meridian and far southwest Boise. During his single term he served on the House Business and Health and Welfare committees, per his official legislative listing. Following the 2021 redistricting cycle, his district was merged into District 22A, where he faced incumbent John Vander Woude in the 2022 Republican primary and lost, as documented on Ballotpedia. He did not run in 2024.

After leaving the Legislature, Ferch was appointed by the Ada County Commission in October 2023 to the Central District Health Board, filling the seat vacated by Attorney General Raúl Labrador. The Idaho Statesman reported at the time that the appointment drew scrutiny because of Ferch’s unorthodox views on vaccines and COVID-19 public health measures. He was subsequently elevated to board chair.

Policy Positions

Ferch’s campaign emphasizes fiscal discipline, healthcare policy centered on patient autonomy and individual rights, infrastructure investment, and limited government. His campaign website states he will push for practical healthcare reforms that lower costs and keep decisions between patients and doctors, while opposing government overreach in economic and regulatory policy.

On public health, Ferch has held documented positions at odds with mainstream medical consensus. During his legislative term he publicly questioned the scientific basis for COVID-19 public health measures including masks. On the Idaho House floor during a 2021 COVID-related debate, Ferch stated that masks were “converting people into mouth-breathers” and that the COVID-19 vaccine was not a “sterilizing vaccine,” as reported by the Idaho Press. In a separate 2022 floor debate, Ferch said he had personally “made COVID-19 irrelevant” through his lifestyle and quipped that he would not be allowed into Australia because he was unvaccinated, as covered by the Idaho Capital Sun.

In a March 2022 video interview with Health Freedom Idaho, an anti-vaccination group, documented by the Idaho Statesman, Ferch advocated for “nutritional holistic health care” and stated he was “modeling” positions supported by Ryan Cole, an Ada County pathologist whose COVID-19 claims the Idaho Medical Association formally condemned as dangerous misinformation. Boise State Public Radio reported that Ferch shared anti-vaccine messages on social media for several years, at least one of which was censored by Facebook as misinformation.

As Central District Health Board chair, Ferch voted in May 2025 alongside Cole to stop the health district from offering COVID-19 vaccines at its clinics. The motion failed on a 4-3 vote, as reported by the Idaho Statesman.

On fiscal policy, Ferch supports low taxes, reduced government spending, and strategic infrastructure investment in roads and water. He has signed the U.S. Term Limits convention pledge committing to support an Article V convention for congressional term limits.

Political Alignment

Ferch is a Conservative Activist. His documented alignment with Health Freedom Idaho, an anti-vaccination organization, combined with his public legislative floor statements questioning mainstream medical consensus on COVID-19 represent one indicator consistent with activist-movement affiliation, as reported by Boise State Public Radio and the Idaho Statesman. His stated admiration for and alignment with the positions of Ryan Cole, a figure the Idaho Medical Association formally condemned for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, represents a second documented indicator. These combined indicators, along with his support for the full range of legislative measures restricting vaccine and public health intervention requirements, support the Conservative Activist classification.

Campaign and Endorsements

Ferch announced his candidacy in May 2025 and filed for the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, as reported by the Gem State Chronicle. He faces Kelly Walton in the primary. Democrat Loren Petty is running in the general election. No formal endorsements for Ferch’s 2026 campaign had been publicly reported at the time of publication. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Greg Ferch Idaho? Greg Ferch is a Republican from Kuna and a former Idaho state representative who served District 21B from 2020 to 2022. He is a chiropractor, U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran, and current chair of the Central District Health Board, running for Idaho House District 22A in the May 2026 primary.

What district is Greg Ferch running in? Ferch is running in Idaho House District 22A, a Canyon County district in the Nampa area.

Is Greg Ferch an incumbent? No. Ferch previously served one term in the Idaho House representing District 21B and lost the 2022 Republican primary after redistricting. His 2026 campaign is his return to electoral politics after a four-year absence.

What are Greg Ferch’s political positions? Ferch supports low taxes, reduced government spending, infrastructure investment, and a patient-centered approach to healthcare emphasizing individual rights and informed consent. During his legislative term he actively questioned mainstream public health guidance on COVID-19 vaccines and mask policies.

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