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.

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 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, as noted on his official Idaho Legislature member profile.

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, as documented in his Ballotpedia candidate survey. 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. 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, formally titled the Investing in Mothers and Families Act, which would create a fund supporting pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes and permit taxpayers to designate a portion of their tax refund as a donation, as tracked by the Idaho Medical Association. The bill did not advance that session. 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. He told Boise State Public Radio in February 2026 that cutting taxes on tips and overtime “truly benefits” blue-collar, hardworking Idahoans in rural districts like his. 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.” His Vice Chair position on the House Agricultural Affairs Committee is consistent with this stated priority.

Political Alignment

Shirts is a Traditional Conservative Republican. His endorsements from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, Professional Firefighters of Idaho, and Idaho Dairy Industry PAC are all consistent with this classification. His background as a military prosecutor and federal attorney, his committee assignments in agricultural affairs and revenue and taxation, and his stated priorities of low taxes, law enforcement, water rights, and pro-life policy reflect rural, law-and-order Idaho conservative governance. His 2025 vote in favor of House Bill 93, the Parental Choice Tax Credit, is likewise consistent with mainstream Idaho Republican positioning.

Campaign and Endorsements

Shirts is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against challenger Heidi Smith-Takatori. He is supported by the Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, Professional Firefighters of Idaho, Idaho Potato Industry PAC, and the Idaho Dairy Industry PAC, as documented in his campaign endorsement materials. His campaign also received an endorsement from Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. As of April 2026, no additional organizational endorsements for the 2026 race had been publicly reported.

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

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

FAQ

Who is John Shirts, Idaho? John Shirts is a Republican state representative from Weiser serving his first term in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 9A. He is a fifth-generation Idahoan, Air Force veteran, former Assistant United States Attorney, and is running for re-election in the May 2026 primary.

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

Is John Shirts an incumbent or challenger? Shirts is an incumbent, first elected in 2024 after defeating incumbent Jacyn Gallagher in the Republican primary.

What committees does John Shirts serve on? Shirts serves as Vice Chair of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee, and also sits on the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and the Revenue and Taxation Committee.

What legislation has John Shirts sponsored? In the 2025 session, Shirts sponsored the Investing in Mothers and Families Act, which would have created the Choose Life Idaho Fund to support pregnancy resource centers and adoption education. In 2026, he filed House Concurrent Resolution 23 calling on Congress to propose a congressional term limits amendment.

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