Kelly Anthon

Kelly Arthur Anthon: Idaho Republican Senator for District 27

Kelly Arthur Anthon is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate representing District 27, which covers Cassia and Minidoka counties in southcentral Idaho. Anthon lives in Rupert and is seeking re-election in the May 2026 primary. He is an incumbent currently serving his sixth term and holds the position of President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate, the chamber’s highest-ranking leadership role.

Background

Kelly Anthon was born on August 4, 1974, in Burley, Idaho. He was raised on a family farm near Declo, Idaho, attending public schools in Declo and graduating from Declo High School in 1992. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan, and later graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology in 1998 and from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2002, where he was also named the Bistline Scholar and student body president. Wikipedia Anthon is a seventh-generation Idahoan whose family has continuously farmed in the Declo area for over a century.

Before entering politics, Anthon worked as a partner with the firm Robinson, Anthon & Tribe, where he focused on municipal law, debt restructuring, and large business reorganization. He also worked as the appointed city attorney for the cities of Burley, Rupert, Acequia, and Minidoka, and later stepped away from law practice to take the position of city administrator in Rupert. Ballotpedia In 2012, Anthon was hired as Rupert City Administrator, where he has managed multiple public utilities. In 2020, Anthon began teaching part time at the University of Idaho College of Law. WikipediaHe also serves on the board of directors of the Mart Group, a potato processing and marketing company, and on the boards of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Council and the Region IV Development Corporation.

Anthon is proficient in Japanese and spent roughly two decades working as a contract consultant and international business specialist. In 2025, Anthon received a commendation from the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of his work strengthening cultural and economic ties between Idaho and Japan. Wikipedia

Political Career

Gov. Butch Otter appointed Anthon to the Idaho Senate in 2015 to fill a vacancy left when incumbent Senator Dean Cameron resigned for an appointment as director of the Department of Insurance. Ballotpedia Anthon was subsequently elected in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. He ran unopposed in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2024, and defeated an independent challenger by a margin of 89 to 11 percent in 2022, according to his Ballotpedia profile.

Within the Senate Republican caucus, Anthon rose steadily through leadership positions. Idaho Senate Republicans elected Anthon in 2017 as the Majority Caucus Chairman. In 2020, Anthon was elected as the Idaho Senate Majority Leader. He was re-elected Majority Leader in 2022. In 2024, Anthon was elected to the Idaho Senate’s top role of President Pro Tempore, making him second in line of succession to the Governor. Wikipedia

Anthon succeeds former Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, who was defeated by a challenger in his legislative district in the May 2024 Republican primary. The president pro tem is the highest-ranking member of the Idaho Senate and presides over the chamber when the lieutenant governor is away. The president pro tem also is called to serve as acting governor when both the governor and lieutenant governor cannot perform their duties. Idaho Capital Sun

Anthon currently serves on the Senate Local Government and Taxation and State Affairs Committees, as listed on his official Idaho Legislature member profile.

In recent legislative sessions, Anthon has been active on property tax relief and parental rights legislation. He was a co-sponsor of H231, a property tax relief bill that passed the House 61 to 6 and the Senate 30 to 3 during the 2025 session. Idaho Farm Bureau Anthon also co-sponsored the Idaho Parental Rights Act in 2024, which required parental consent for nearly all medical care provided to minors. After the law took effect, reports emerged that it had inadvertently disrupted young people’s access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, non-emergency first aid, medical exams related to crimes against a child, and pregnancy care when the mother was a minor. News From The States Anthon sponsored follow-up legislation in 2025 to clarify and amend the law, telling Idaho Reports, “Sometimes you bring a bill that is meant to generally deal with concerns your constituents bring to you, and you know it may need some work on the backside.” Idaho Reports

Policy Positions

Anthon’s publicly stated priorities, as outlined on his campaign website, center on fiscal conservatism, agriculture, water policy, and rural economic development. He has called for balanced budgets, tax cuts, and reduced regulation, with particular emphasis on ensuring that state policy works for farming and ranching communities. On his campaign website, he describes agriculture as “the lifeblood of the Idaho economy.”

In comments to the Idaho Farm Bureau, Anthon said of Cassia and Minidoka counties: “Agriculture is a major part of the economy in all those counties,” adding, “There’s nothing in Idaho that can survive without agriculture.” Post Register

On constitutional rights, Anthon’s campaign website states his support for Second Amendment protections and parental rights over medical and educational decisions. He has also emphasized small government as a general governing principle.

In 2025, Anthon addressed the Idaho Farm Bureau’s legislative conference and spoke on the balance between protecting property rights Idaho Farm Bureau and other state priorities, according to Farm Bureau legislative reporting.

Political Alignment

Kelly Anthon appears aligned with the governing conservative mainstream of Idaho Republican politics. His career trajectory, leadership positions, and legislative record reflect the rural, property-rights-oriented, agriculture-focused conservatism associated with the established Republican leadership in Boise. The Idaho Farm Bureau has recognized him annually with its “Friend of Agriculture Award,” and the Idaho Food Producers has named him an “Ag All-Star” every year he has served in the legislature, recognitions consistent with the traditional conservative Republican establishment that anchors around Governor Brad Little and major agricultural organizations.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation has publicly criticized Anthon and House Speaker Mike Moyle for their handling of a 2025 DOGE-style task force, with the IFF’s own commentary characterizing Anthon and Moyle as insufficiently committed to deep spending cuts. This criticism from the IFF’s right flank, combined with Anthon’s position atop the Senate’s mainstream Republican leadership structure, is consistent with classification as a Traditional Conservative Republican within Idaho’s political context.

Campaign and Endorsements

Anthon has received the Idaho Farm Bureau’s “Friend of Agriculture Award” and the Idaho Food Producers’ “Ag All-Star” designation annually throughout his tenure, as noted on his campaign website. No additional endorsements for the 2026 primary cycle have been publicly reported as of the date of publication.

FAQ

Who is Kelly Arthur Anthon? Kelly Arthur Anthon is a Republican Idaho State Senator representing District 27, which covers Cassia and Minidoka counties in southcentral Idaho. He has served in the Idaho Senate since 2015 and currently holds the position of President Pro Tempore.

What district does Kelly Anthon represent in Idaho? Anthon represents Idaho Senate District 27, a southcentral Idaho district that includes Cassia and Minidoka counties.

Is Kelly Anthon an incumbent? Yes. Anthon is an incumbent seeking re-election to a seventh term. He was first appointed to the Senate in 2015 and has been re-elected at each subsequent election.

What committees does Kelly Anthon serve on? As of 2026, Anthon serves on the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee and the State Affairs Committee, as listed on his official Idaho Legislature profile.

What is Kelly Anthon’s role in Idaho Senate leadership? Anthon is the President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate, a position he was elected to by Senate Republicans in December 2024. The role makes him the highest-ranking member of the Senate and places him second in line of succession to the Governor.

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