John C. Shirts

John Shirts: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 9A

John Shirts is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives serving District 9A, which covers Washington County in southwestern Idaho. Shirts, who lives on the family ranch in Weiser, was first elected in November 2024 after defeating incumbent Jacyn Gallagher in the Republican primary. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 primary, where he faces a challenge from Heidi Smith-Takatori.

2024 Primary Election Results
Shirts 5,274 votes / Gallagher 3,255 votes

2024 General Election Results
Shirts 21,104 votes / Albritton 3,717 votes

Background

John Shirts was born in Nampa, Idaho, and is a fifth-generation Idahoan whose great-great-grandfather homesteaded in Washington County in the 1880s. He grew up working on his family’s ranch and attended Weiser High School, graduating in 2005. Shirts earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Idaho in 2009 and went on to earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School. He subsequently clerked for the Honorable Jonathan P. Brody, an Idaho District Court judge in Rupert. Using the GI Bill, he also completed a master’s degree in International Relations through Harvard University’s Extension School.

Following law school, Shirts was commissioned as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Korea as an adviser to the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, was later appointed to the Air Force’s Special Victims Unit, and served as a Senior Trial Counsel prosecuting sexual assault cases at Air Force bases internationally. His military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal. After leaving active duty, Shirts was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney under the first Trump administration, serving as a federal prosecutor in Idaho. He continues to serve as a prosecutor in the Air Force Reserve. He is married to Mercedes Shirts, a high school teacher, and the couple resides on the family ranch in Weiser.

Political Career

John Shirts assumed office on December 1, 2024, following his November 2024 general election victory over Democratic candidate Thomas Albritton. Shirts received approximately 85 percent of the vote in that race, with Albritton receiving 15 percent. Before reaching the general election, Shirts defeated incumbent Representative Jacyn Gallagher in the May 2024 Republican primary.

In the 2025-2026 legislative session, Shirts serves on three House committees: the Agricultural Affairs Committee, where he holds the position of Vice Chair; the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee; and the Revenue and Taxation Committee, as listed on his official Idaho Legislature member profile.

During the 2025 legislative session, Shirts sponsored legislation to establish the Choose Life Idaho Fund, described in Idaho Medical Association tracking as a bill creating a fund to support organizations providing life-affirming counseling, care, and adoption education as alternatives to abortion. In early 2026, Shirts filed House Concurrent Resolution 23 on behalf of U.S. Term Limits, a resolution calling on Congress to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Shirts had also signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge as a candidate, as noted on his Ballotpedia profile.

Policy Positions

Shirts has outlined his priorities on his campaign website across four broad categories: fiscal conservatism, law enforcement and veterans, social issues, and agriculture.

On fiscal matters, the campaign website states that Shirts supports “maintaining low taxes, cutting regulations, and eliminating government waste” and frames low government spending as essential to preserving individual freedom. On law enforcement, he supports increased resources for police and has called for mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl traffickers.

Shirts describes himself as “staunchly pro-life” and states he will “advocate for policies that protect the unborn,” which was reflected in his 2025 sponsorship of the Choose Life Idaho Fund legislation. On the Second Amendment, his campaign states he supports upholding the individual right to bear arms.

On agriculture, Shirts has emphasized protecting water rights and opposing what he characterizes on his campaign website as “agriculture killing policies from liberals in Boise and Washington DC.” His Vice Chair position on the House Agricultural Affairs Committee is consistent with this stated priority.

On term limits, Shirts has supported the idea both as a candidate pledge and through his 2026 sponsorship of the congressional term limits resolution.

Political Alignment

Based on available evidence, John Shirts appears aligned with the Traditional Conservative Republican classification. His committee assignments, including the vice chair role on the Agricultural Affairs Committee, his law enforcement and water rights focus, and his background as a military prosecutor and federal attorney place him within the rural, law-and-order conservative tradition represented by organizations like the Idaho Cattlemen’s and Dairymen’s associations. His campaign themes of low taxes, support for law enforcement, pro-life positioning, and Second Amendment support are consistent with mainstream Idaho Republican politics. No documented affiliations with the Idaho Freedom Foundation, Idaho Freedom Caucus, Citizens Alliance of Idaho, or similar activist organizations were identified during research, and no endorsements from figures associated with the activist wing of the Idaho GOP were found. The Idaho Freedom Foundation’s 2025 index report lists Shirts among the legislators included in its scoring, but an individual numeric score for Shirts was not publicly accessible during research. The record as a whole points toward the governing conservative mainstream rather than the activist or far-right wing of Idaho Republican politics.

Campaign and Endorsements

Shirts is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against challenger Heidi Smith-Takatori. His campaign operates under the committee Shirts for Idaho. As of April 2026, no specific organizational endorsements for the 2026 race had been publicly reported on Ballotpedia or in available media coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is John Shirts, Idaho? John Shirts is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives from Weiser, Idaho. He is a first-term legislator, attorney, and U.S. Air Force Reserve JAG officer representing District 9A in Washington County.

What district does John Shirts represent? John Shirts represents Idaho House District 9A, which covers Washington County in southwestern Idaho.

Is John Shirts an incumbent or challenger in 2026? Shirts is the incumbent, having first been elected in November 2024. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

What committees does John Shirts serve on in the Idaho Legislature? Shirts serves as Vice Chair of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee and is also a member of the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and the Revenue and Taxation Committee, as listed on his official Idaho Legislature profile.

What legislation has John Shirts sponsored? During the 2025 session, Shirts sponsored a bill establishing the Choose Life Idaho Fund. In 2026, he filed House Concurrent Resolution 23 calling on Congress to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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