Jim Guthrie

Jim Guthrie is a Republican state senator from McCammon, currently serving his eighth term in the Idaho State Senate for District 28. The district covers Power, Franklin, and parts of Bannock counties in eastern Idaho. He faces challenger David Worley in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

Background

Guthrie was born July 13, 1955, in Pocatello and is a lifelong Idahoan and second-generation rancher. He raises beef cattle and grows hay on the family operation in McCammon, in the Marsh Valley area of Bannock County. He graduated from Marsh Valley High School and attended Idaho State University. He has three children, ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. His pre-legislative public service includes the Marsh Valley School District Board of Trustees (1995–2001) and Bannock County Commissioner (2001–2007).

Political Career

Guthrie was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives (District 29B) for one term in 2010 and has served continuously in the Idaho State Senate since December 2012. He chairs the Senate State Affairs Committee, a powerful gatekeeping committee that reviews a wide range of legislation; he previously chaired the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Senate Resources & Environment Committee. In the 2026 session he was the only Republican senator to vote against legislation criminalizing transgender Idahoans for using bathrooms matching their gender identity, telling the Idaho Capital Sun: "We seem to be really focused on this space and ignoring the fact that there are people that are just like us, human beings, just like us. What are they supposed to do?" He delivered a floor speech opposing deep across-the-board cuts to Health and Human Services that helped halt a budget bill on a 10–25 vote with 18 Republican senators joining him, calling it a "defining moment." He voted against the 2025 private-school tax credit program. He sponsored S1326 in 2025 on property-rights protections.

Policy Positions

Guthrie's campaign platform emphasizes strong agriculture, local control, strong schools, and water rights for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer. On agriculture, he writes about reducing regulatory burdens, supporting agricultural infrastructure and research, and defending rural communities. On local control, he draws on his Bannock County Commissioner experience to advocate for legislation empowering cities and counties on land use, taxation, and public services. On schools, he supports increased education funding, teacher salaries, local board authority, and vocational and technical education. On water, he supports defending senior water rights, mitigation plans, negotiations, storage, and conservation infrastructure. He has announced plans to introduce legislation reinstating a May presidential primary: "The caucus system results in poor voter turnout and doesn't provide an opportunity for active military to vote or those out of state for education and missions... Plus it will save the state 2.5 million dollars." On the state budget he has said: "In my opinion, we should have put a hold on the state income tax cuts until revenue recovered or used some of the 1.7 billion dollars we hold of tax payer money in rainy day accounts." On immigration enforcement: "I am not comfortable ceding our local control to the federal government, especially when local law enforcement who I highly respect is against the mandate."

Political Alignment

Per Idaho EdNews, Guthrie is endorsed by five Idaho constitutional officers: Governor Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, and State Controller Brandon Woolf. Per Idaho Sunshine 2026 contributions, he has received $1,000 PAC contributions from the Idaho Credit Union League PAC, Idaho Hospital Association PAC, Idaho Medical PAC, and Idaho Health Care Association PAC, along with the Idaho Dairy Industry PAC. Idaho Education News published a guest commentary calling Guthrie "the epitome of courage and quiet leadership" for his role in the 2026 budget fight.

Campaign and Endorsements

Guthrie is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against David Worley, a Pocatello small-business owner, Iraq War veteran, and former candidate for Pocatello mayor. Documented endorsements include Governor Brad Little, Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, SPI Debbie Critchfield, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, and State Controller Brandon Woolf. The general election is November 3, 2026.