Karey Hanks

Karey Hanks: Idaho Republican Challenger for House District 31B

Karey Hanks is a Republican challenger seeking election to the Idaho House of Representatives in District 31B, which covers Fremont, Clark, Jefferson, and Lemhi Counties in eastern Idaho. Hanks lives in Egin, Idaho. She faces incumbent Republican Rod Furniss in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary in their third matchup, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. Democrat Wendy Norman is running in the general election.

Background

Hanks grew up in Fremont County and graduated from Idaho Falls High School. She earned an associate degree in education from Ricks College and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2011, as noted on Ballotpedia. She and her husband Burke have co-owned a farming operation for more than 32 years. She also drives a school bus, serves in her church, and has volunteered with the Boy Scouts. She founded the Fremont County Patriots, a local civic organization focused on keeping residents informed on public issues, as described in a 2026 candidate profile by Local News 8. She is the mother of seven children and has 19 grandchildren.

Political Career

Hanks was first elected to the Idaho House in 2016, representing District 35B. Furniss defeated her in the 2018 Republican primary for that same seat, as documented on Ballotpedia. Following redistricting, she won election in 2020 and served one term representing District 31A. She lost the District 31A Republican primary to Jerald Raymond in 2022, then challenged Furniss again in the District 31B primary in 2024, losing to him, as documented on Ballotpedia.

During her legislative service she sat on the Education and State Affairs committees. Furniss, speaking to Idaho Education News, said Hanks’s voting record is more aligned with the Idaho Freedom Foundation, stating she “pretty well follows their suggestions to the tee.” In October 2020, Hanks appeared in a video produced by the Idaho Freedom Foundation alongside Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin and other legislators criticizing Gov. Brad Little, as noted on Wikipedia. She voted against budget enhancements she considered beyond what was necessary and supported legislation banning critical race theory in public schools.

Policy Positions

Hanks’s publicly stated priorities, drawn from her campaign website and candidate interviews, center on traditional values, parental rights, gun rights, limited government, fiscal restraint, and opposing outside influence on Idaho’s culture and politics. She told Idaho Education News that she has watched Furniss’s voting record and believes it does not reflect the values of eastern Idaho. She has expressed concern about protecting parental rights, gun rights, and resisting outside interests she believes are attempting to change Idaho’s conservative character. She has also expressed support for school choice and opposed budgets she viewed as containing unnecessary spending enhancements.

Political Alignment

Hanks is a Conservative Activist. Her documented alignment with Idaho Freedom Foundation recommendations — cited directly by her opponent in Idaho Education News — her appearance in a 2020 IFF video alongside Lt. Governor McGeachin, and her consistent opposition to budget enhancements place her within the IFF-aligned activist wing of the Idaho Republican caucus.

Campaign and Endorsements

Hanks faces incumbent Rod Furniss in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. Democrat Wendy Norman is running in the general election. Campaign finance disclosures are available through the Idaho Sunshine campaign finance portal. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Karey Hanks, Idaho? Karey Hanks is a Republican challenger from Egin, Idaho, and former state representative seeking election in Idaho House District 31B. She served in the Idaho House from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2022 and is challenging incumbent Rod Furniss for the third time.

What district is Karey Hanks running in? Hanks is running in House District 31B, which covers Fremont, Clark, Jefferson, and Lemhi Counties in eastern Idaho.

Is Karey Hanks an incumbent? No. Hanks is a challenger. She served two prior terms in the Idaho House but has not held office since 2022.

What are Karey Hanks’s main policy positions? Hanks’s stated priorities include traditional values, parental rights, gun rights, limited government spending, school choice, and resisting outside influence on Idaho’s conservative character.

2024 Primary Election Results Furniss defeated Hanks

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