Josh Tanner

Josh Tanner: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 14B

Josh Tanner is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives serving District 14, Seat B, representing the Eagle area in Ada County. Tanner was first elected in November 2022 and is currently in his second term. He is seeking re-election in the May 2026 Republican primary.

Background

Josh Tanner was born and raised in Eagle, Idaho. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and an Executive MBA, both from Boise State University, as documented on his Ballotpedia profile. Tanner owns and operates multiple small businesses in Eagle. Prior to his election to the legislature, he served as an elected commissioner and chairman of the Eagle Fire Protection District beginning in 2018. He and his wife Dominique have three children.

Political Career

Tanner first ran for the District 14B seat in 2020 but lost in the Republican primary to incumbent Gayann DeMordaunt. He ran again in 2022, defeating DeMordaunt with 55.4 percent of the primary vote and winning the general election against Democratic challenger Shelley Brock. He assumed office on December 1, 2022. During his first term, Tanner served on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), Resources and Conservation Committee, and Ways and Means Committee, per the Idaho Legislature's membership records. The House Republican Caucus elected him Assistant Majority Leader ahead of the 2025 session, according to Idaho Education News. He ran unopposed in the May 2024 Republican primary and defeated Democratic candidate Jo Daly in the November 2024 general election, 25,629 votes to 7,431. The most significant development of Tanner's second term came at its outset. In January 2026, House Speaker Mike Moyle appointed Tanner as House co-chair of JFAC, the legislature's budget-writing body, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. The appointment came after longtime JFAC co-chair Wendy Horman resigned to join the Trump administration. Tanner stepped down from his Assistant Majority Leader position upon accepting the role. As co-chair, Tanner worked alongside Senate co-chair Scott Grow to navigate a projected budget shortfall of roughly $555 million for fiscal year 2027, following several years of tax cuts. JFAC advanced the 2026 Idaho Rescissions Act, which cut approximately $192 million from the current fiscal year budget. In March 2026, the Idaho Capital Sun reported that Idaho Summit PAC, a political action committee for which Tanner is listed as chairperson, accepted a $200,000 contribution from a Boise donor on March 13 — one of the largest individual political contributions in Idaho in recent years. The contribution drew attention given Tanner's role overseeing state budget decisions. Tanner did not respond to the publication's requests for comment.

Policy Positions

Tanner's public statements and legislative record reflect a consistent emphasis on fiscal restraint and limited government. Upon his JFAC appointment, he stated: "Every dollar appropriated represents money trusted to us by working Idahoans. That trust demands discipline, accountability, and a firm commitment to spend only what is necessary — and nothing more." On criminal justice, Tanner co-sponsored House Bill 515 in 2024, a bill that would have expanded the death penalty to certain sex crimes against children under the age of 12. As reported by the Idaho Statesman, Tanner and co-sponsor Rep. Bruce Skaug acknowledged the bill was inconsistent with existing Supreme Court precedent but expressed support for using it to challenge that precedent. Tanner stated on the House floor: "Idaho needs to be like Florida and lead out in this and go, 'We're here to protect these kids.'" The bill passed the Idaho House but did not become law. On fiscal matters, Tanner expressed concern during a 2024 Medicaid budget debate about proposed rate increases, telling a legislative committee: "We know we're in a recessionary time. I'm just wondering if this is the time to provide those rate increases." His campaign website outlines support for the Second Amendment and constitutional governance.

Political Alignment

Tanner is aligned with the Conservative Activist wing of Idaho Republican politics. He received an endorsement from Idaho Freedom PAC, the campaign arm of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, in his 2022 race, as the Idaho Voter Guide documented at the time. Idaho Education News, reporting on the dynamics of the 2024 Republican primary, identified Idaho Freedom PAC as part of the activist conservative wing competing against business-aligned Republicans in that cycle. Tanner's voting record has drawn consistently high ratings from the IFF's Freedom Index, and his co-sponsorship of constitutionally contested death penalty expansion legislation is consistent with that alignment. His appointment as JFAC co-chair by Speaker Moyle reflects his place within House leadership while his activist conservative voting record remains intact.

Campaign and Endorsements

Tanner's 2022 campaign was endorsed by Idaho Freedom PAC and Stop Idaho RINOs. He signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge, as documented by Ballotpedia. In October 2024, Tanner held a fundraising event through Idaho Summit PAC featuring U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher and former U.S. Senator Larry Craig, as noted in reporting by the Idaho Capital Sun. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine database.