Karey Hanks

Karey Hanks is a Republican former member of the Idaho House of Representatives seeking to return to the legislature in House District 31, the Fremont / Jefferson / Butte / Clark stretch of eastern Idaho. Hanks is running in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against the sitting Republican incumbent. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

Per Vote Smart, Hanks earned an associate degree from Ricks College and a B.S. in Psychology from Brigham Young University in 2011. She resides in St. Anthony, Idaho.

Political Career

Hanks previously served in the Idaho House. During her prior tenure, she sponsored repeated anti-mask-mandate bills during the COVID-19 pandemic and voted with the Idaho Freedom Caucus bloc on contested floor calls. She is a founding member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus.

Policy Positions

Hanks's legislative record reflects close alignment with the Idaho Freedom Foundation policy stack. Her prior House service included anti-mask-mandate legislation during COVID-19 and Idaho Freedom Caucus bloc votes on contested floor calls. The IFF Freedom Index tracks legislator votes against the IFF's preferred positions.

Political Alignment

Hanks is a founding member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus and Idaho Freedom Foundation-aligned. Per Idaho Sunshine campaign-finance records, her direct contributors across cycles have included Doyle Beck ($1,000 in 2020 plus $500 in 2022) and his spouse Lynn Beck ($1,000 in 2020 plus $500 in 2022); Bryan Smith ($1,000 in 2021 plus two $500 contributions in 2020) and his spouse Sharon Smith ($1,000 in 2021 plus two $500 contributions in 2020); Stefan Gleason of Charlotte, North Carolina ($1,000 in 2020 plus $500 in 2021); and Rhino PAC ($500 twice in 2022).

Campaign and Endorsements

Hanks is running in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. Per the Idaho Sunshine portal, her 2026 campaign is supported by approximately $3,879 in independent expenditures from Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC and Idaho Summit PAC. Idaho EdNews has reported that Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC draws substantial out-of-state funding, including a $450,000 transfer from a Virginia-based federal affiliate and Pennsylvania gaming-related sources. The general election is November 3, 2026.

About This Profile

For deeper background on Karey Hanks's legislative record and donor history, see the IdahoExtremism.org dossier on Karey Hanks.