Idaho General Election · November 3, 2026Find polling place
Republican

Jim Risch

Jim Risch

U.S. Senate

City:Boise

Jim Risch, Republican incumbent and candidate for U.S. Senator from Idaho

Jim Risch, a Republican, has been Idaho's U.S. Senator since 2009 and is a candidate for a fourth term in the November 3, 2026 general election. He filed on February 23, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State lists the filing as approved. He won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 156,140 votes (67.26%), according to the Idaho Secretary of State's certified results. Josh Roy received 33,188 votes, Joe Evans 32,636 and Denny LaVe 10,182. His general election opponents are independents Todd Achilles and Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby.

Age and background

The National Governors Association lists his birth date as May 3, 1943, which makes him 83. The Idaho Capital Sun reported in August 2026 that he has "been in his position for nearly 20 years" and holds a forestry degree and a law degree from the University of Idaho.

Asked about his age, he told the Sun: "It is a high-energy job. There's no question about it. I'm incredibly active. Have been all my life. … I'm not going to apologize for the people of Idaho sending me back there over and over again."

Career in Idaho

Risch's Senate office says he "began his career in public service when he was elected to two terms as Ada County Prosecuting Attorney." It says his Idaho Senate colleagues chose him as Republican majority leader and president pro tempore, that Idahoans elected him lieutenant governor twice, and that "in 2006, Senator Risch became Idaho's 31st Governor."

The National Governors Association lists his term as governor as May 26, 2006 to January 1, 2007 and says he became governor after Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The Capital Sun reported that he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Current role

His Senate office says: "Senator Risch serves on five key committees: Energy and Natural Resources, Foreign Relations, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Intelligence, and Ethics. He also serves as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." His office says he and his wife, Vicki, have been married for over 50 years.

Election history

According to the Idaho Secretary of State's election database, Risch won the November 4, 2008 general election with 371,744 votes (57.7%) to Democrat Larry LaRocco's 219,903 (34.1%). He won the November 4, 2014 general election with 285,596 votes (65.3%) to Democrat Nels Mitchell's 151,574 (34.7%). He won the November 3, 2020 general election with 538,446 votes (62.6%) to Democrat Paulette Jordan's 285,864 (33.2%), Natalie Fleming's 25,329 (2.9%) and Constitution Party candidate Ray Writz's 10,188 (1.2%).

Work with Gov. Brad Little

Idaho Sunshine campaign finance records show Vicki Risch as treasurer of Brad Little for Governor, Little's 2026 candidate committee, and of Friends of Brad Little, a political committee chaired by Mitch Watkins. The Secretary of State approved both treasurer appointments on January 5, 2024.

The Spokesman-Review reported in 2016 that Little had named Vicki Risch as his campaign committee treasurer for a run for governor. It described her as "the former Idaho first lady and wife of current U.S. Sen. Jim Risch."

Friends of Brad Little gave Risch's Senate campaign committee $2,500 on February 23, 2026 and $1,000 on May 6, 2026, both designated for the primary, according to the committee's Federal Election Commission filings. Risch's campaign website lists Little among his endorsers.

Campaign consultants

The Jim Risch for U.S. Senate Committee's October Quarterly 2025 report, as amended on April 16, 2026, lists an itemized disbursement of $21,068.49 to McShane LLC of Las Vegas on July 11, 2025, with the purpose "FUNDRAISING EXPENSES." The entry is marked as a memo item. The filing names the firm and not an individual.

Issue One describes McShane LLC as "a political consulting firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada" and says it "is led by Rory McShane." The Salt Lake Tribune calls Rory McShane the firm's founder.

Votes

Senate roll calls on H.R. 1 on July 1, 2025 (Yea, passed 50-50 with the Vice President voting Yea), the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on January 24, 2025 (Yea, 50-50 with the Vice President voting Yea) and H.R. 5334, Russia sanctions legislation, on August 7, 2026 (Yea, passed 86-11) show his votes in the Senate.

He voted Nay on S.J.Res. 37, a joint resolution terminating a national emergency declared to impose duties on imported articles, which passed 51-48 on April 2, 2025, and on S.J.Res. 49, a joint resolution terminating the national emergency declared to impose global tariffs, which was defeated 49-49 on April 30, 2025.

He voted Yea on a motion to table an amendment directing the Attorney General to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on September 10, 2025. The motion was agreed to 51-49. He voted Nay on the March 4, 2026 motion to discharge S.J.Res. 104, a joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities, which was rejected 47-53, and on H.Con.Res. 89, a concurrent resolution under the War Powers Resolution that was rejected 49-50 on September 24, 2026.

In his own words

The Capital Sun's August 2026 report quotes Risch on public lands: "It'll be over my dead body that we sell off public lands." On the SAVE Act, he said: "I'm all in on that. I'm all in on the Save Act." He called the Affordable Care Act "a mess." The Sun reported that he also "underscored his work while he served as Idaho governor to craft Idaho's own Roadless Rule," finalized in 2008.

Endorsements and supporters

President Donald Trump wrote in a March 20, 2025 Truth Social post, reported by KIFI Local News 8: "Senator Jim Risch has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election." Risch's campaign website lists endorsements from Sen. Mike Crapo, Rep. Russ Fulcher, Rep. Mike Simpson, Gov. Brad Little, Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon and Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle.

Former Gov. Butch Otter wrote in a September 13, 2026 Idaho Statesman guest opinion: "He does his homework." He wrote: "In the Senate, Risch has earned positions of real influence; not because he's a showboat on TV but because he puts in the work." He added: "I am proud to endorse Risch for reelection. He has served Idaho with conviction, integrity and a deep love for our state."

Federal Election Commission filings list contributions to Risch's committee from OTTER@CL LLC of Star, Idaho, of $2,000 on November 13, 2025 and $1,500 on February 19, 2026. The filings name Butch Otter, listed as a retired governor, as the intermediary.

What critics say

Achilles told the Idaho Capital Sun: "Sen. Risch is the oldest, wealthiest senator in Idaho history. He's had a good run, but it's time for somebody new." He proposes an age limit of 72 for members of Congress. At the Caldwell forum on September 30, 2026, the Capital Sun reported that Achilles said of Risch: "He's held zero hearings on Venezuela, zero hearings on the illegal destruction of boats in the Caribbean, and zero hearings on the Iran War."

Greg Casey, a Republican who was chief of staff to Sen. Larry Craig and the 34th U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, endorsed Achilles in a July 21, 2026 Idaho Statesman guest opinion. He wrote: "Unfortunately, Idaho Sen. Jim Risch has become the very poster child of an entitled 'go along, party right or wrong' Washington, D.C., insider."

Risch did not attend the Caldwell forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce and the American Association of University Women. His campaign manager, Marc Kilmer, told the Capital Sun it was "organized by someone who has publicly endorsed our opponent, and therefore we felt it would not be an impartial debate." League of Women Voters of Idaho President Jean Henscheid told the Sun she did not know of any organizers who had endorsed a candidate in the race.

Campaign finance

The Federal Election Commission shows that the Jim Risch for U.S. Senate Committee reported receipts of $4,431,093.48 and disbursements of $3,089,996.46 for January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. It reported $3,535,956.11 in cash on hand and no debts. Of the receipts, $2,568,808.88 came from individuals and $1,264,829.00 from other committees.

Among individuals, the largest itemized totals on the committee's reports from 2021 through the July 2026 quarterly were Zeid Kayali of Pasadena, California ($16,900), Tarek Kteleh of Fishers, Indiana ($16,600), Raymond Debbane of Connecticut ($13,800), Ben Chouake of Englewood, New Jersey ($12,000) and Jeremy Fingeret of Houston ($12,000). The reports list refunds to those donors of $9,900, $5,000, $7,000, $5,000 and $12,000.

The reports list 273 committees as donors. Fifty-seven gave the $10,000 maximum, including the political action committees of New York Life Insurance, Southern Company, the Nuclear Energy Institute, Micron Technology, Bechtel, Huntsman Corporation, J.R. Simplot Company, UBS and Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated October 2, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Jim Risch running for?
He is the Republican incumbent seeking a fourth term as U.S. Senator from Idaho in the November 3, 2026 general election. His opponents are Todd Achilles, Natalie Fleming and Matt Loesby.
How old is Jim Risch?
He was born on May 3, 1943, according to the National Governors Association, which makes him 83. He told the Idaho Capital Sun he is incredibly active and will not apologize for Idaho voters returning him.
What offices has Jim Risch held?
His Senate office says he was Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, an Idaho state senator, lieutenant governor twice and, in 2006, Idaho's 31st governor. He has served in the U.S. Senate since 2009.
What committees does Jim Risch lead and serve on?
He chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also serves on the Energy and Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Intelligence, and Ethics committees, according to his office.
What is Jim Risch's connection to Gov. Brad Little's campaign committees?
Idaho Sunshine records list Vicki Risch as treasurer of Brad Little for Governor and Friends of Brad Little. The Spokesman-Review described her in 2016 as Sen. Risch's wife.
Who has endorsed Jim Risch?
President Donald Trump endorsed him in March 2025, and former Gov. Butch Otter wrote a guest opinion in September 2026 endorsing him. His campaign website also lists Gov. Brad Little among his endorsers.
How much money has Jim Risch raised?
The Federal Election Commission shows $4,431,093.48 in receipts and $3,089,996.46 in disbursements from January 2021 through June 30, 2026, with $3,535,956.11 in cash on hand.