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 east Idaho. Hanks lives in Egin, Idaho. She faces incumbent Republican Rod Furniss in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary for the third consecutive time, as confirmed on her Ballotpedia profile. 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 described on her Ballotpedia profile. She and her husband Burke have been co-owners of a farming operation for more than 32 years. She drives a school bus, serves in her church, has volunteered with the Boy Scouts, and founded the Fremont County Patriots, a local civic organization to keep residents informed on issues, as she described in a 2026 candidate profile published 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 of Representatives in 2016, representing District 31A, and was re-elected in 2020 when she and Furniss both won seats in District 31 following redistricting. She lost the District 31A Republican primary to Jerald Raymond in 2022, then challenged Furniss directly in the District 31B primary in 2024, losing by 268 votes, as documented on her Ballotpedia profile.

During her legislative service she sat on the Education and State Affairs committees. Her voting record drew a pointed contrast from Furniss, who told Idaho Education News that Hanks “pretty well follows their suggestions to the tee,” referring to the Idaho Freedom Foundation. In October 2020, Hanks appeared in a video produced by the Idaho Freedom Foundation alongside Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin and other legislators criticizing Governor Brad Little, as noted on Wikipedia. She voted against budget enhancements she deemed beyond what was necessary and supported legislation banning critical race theory in public schools.

In a February 2026 op-ed published by the Gem State Chronicle, Hanks questioned whether cultural legislation was receiving appropriate priority given Idaho’s projected budget shortfall, framing herself as a voice for fiscal discipline alongside traditional values.

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 has framed her 2026 campaign around her stated concern that Furniss’s voting record does not reflect the values of east Idaho. She told Idaho Education News that she is focused on protecting parental rights, gun rights, and resisting outside interests she believes are attempting to change Idaho’s conservative character. She has 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, her appearance in a 2020 IFF video alongside Lt. Governor McGeachin, her founding of the Fremont County Patriots, 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, as confirmed on Ballotpedia. 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 two-term 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 consecutive time.

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

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