Josh Callen

Josh Callen: Idaho Republican Candidate for House District 25A

Josh Callen is a Republican challenger running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 25A in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. Callen, of Twin Falls, is a fourth-generation Idahoan, agricultural market researcher, and small business owner competing in a four-way Republican primary for an open seat in Twin Falls County. The seat became available after Rep. Lance Clow resigned and gubernatorial appointee Rep. Don Hall declined to seek election. Callen’s three primary opponents are Andrew Messer, Grayson Stone, and Zaine Newberry, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Background

Callen grew up on a custom hay farming operation in southern Idaho. After working his way up to baler crew boss, he left the farm to pursue higher education, earning a dual bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Boise State University in 2015, according to The Hoyt Report’s about page. After graduating he worked as an operations analyst on the finance team at Chobani in the Magic Valley before transitioning to agricultural market research. In 2018 he joined The Hoyt Report, a Twin Falls-based publication covering western hay markets, and took over as owner and Market Research Analyst in 2020. The Hoyt Report provides hay price tracking, supply and demand analysis, and market briefings to clients including hay growers, dairy operators, and agricultural associations. Callen and his wife Lauren have four children and live in Twin Falls.

Political Career

Callen has not previously held elected office. His 2026 campaign for Idaho House District 25A is his first known run for public office. He filed for the Republican primary in February 2026 for the open seat in Twin Falls County’s District 25A.

Policy Positions

Callen has outlined his priorities on his campaign website and his Idaho Republican Party candidate profile. His platform is notably detailed and covers a wider range of policy areas than is typical of first-time candidates.

On energy and utilities, Callen opposes what he characterizes as green energy mandates and DEI programs at public utilities, arguing these drive up power rates for Idaho families. He supports requiring data centers to pay for their own infrastructure upgrades rather than passing costs to residential ratepayers, and has called for promoting nuclear power in eastern Idaho to meet future energy demand.

On education, Callen’s platform calls for increasing teacher pay, modernizing school facilities and technology, expanding pre-K programs to all eligible families, and creating college affordability programs including debt relief initiatives. He also supports reducing teachers’ union influence and updating curriculum to emphasize practical and vocational skills.

On agriculture and water, Callen supports partnering with irrigation districts on expanded water storage projects, removing regulatory burdens on farmers, reforming agricultural liability laws, and supporting trade missions to develop new markets for Idaho farm products.

On family policy, Callen has called for reforming divorce laws to keep families together and changing custody law to make equal 50/50 parenting time the default presumption, framing the family as the foundational unit of civil society.

On fiscal policy, he supports holding public utility prices steady, maintaining Idaho’s low-tax environment, lowering barriers to entrepreneurship, and reducing the state’s financial dependency on federal funding.

On public safety and immigration, Callen supports legislation facilitating cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, and supports accelerating enforcement of capital punishment for serious crimes.

Political Alignment

Callen is a Conservative Activist. His campaign consistently criticizes DEI programs, green energy initiatives, teachers’ union influence, and federal dependency from a rightward position. His opposition to utility DEI mandates and green energy requirements, his immigration enforcement stance, and his support for capital punishment acceleration reflect the activist conservative wing of the Idaho Republican Party. His education platform, which includes expanded pre-K and college debt relief, reflects some positions less typical of the hardline activist right.

Campaign and Endorsements

Callen filed for the District 25A Republican primary in February 2026. The four-way primary on May 19, 2026, is widely regarded as the decisive contest in a heavily Republican district, as noted by the Idaho Capital Sun. No formal endorsements for Callen had been publicly reported at the time of publication. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Josh Callen Idaho? Josh Callen is a Republican from Twin Falls running for Idaho House District 25A in the May 2026 primary. He is a fourth-generation Idahoan, owner of The Hoyt Report agricultural market research business, and first-time candidate.

What district is Josh Callen running in? Callen is running in Idaho House District 25A, located in Twin Falls County.

Is Josh Callen an incumbent? No. Callen has not previously held elected office and is a challenger in a four-way Republican primary for an open seat.

What are Josh Callen’s political positions? Callen supports opposing utility DEI and green energy mandates, promoting nuclear power, increasing teacher pay while reducing union influence, expanded pre-K and college affordability, water storage investment, equal parenting time in custody law, immigration enforcement cooperation with federal authorities, and maintaining Idaho’s low-tax environment.

Who else is running in the Idaho House District 25A primary? The Republican primary includes Josh Callen, Andrew Messer, Grayson Stone, and Zaine Newberry.

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