Kelly Golden

Kelly Golden: Idaho Republican Challenger for House District 32A

Kelly Golden is a Republican challenger running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 32A, which covers a significant portion of rural Bonneville County. Golden, who lives in Idaho Falls, is challenging two-term incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. Sean Crystal is also running in the primary. Golden previously ran against Mickelsen in the 2024 Republican primary and lost.

Background

Kelly Golden has lived in Bonneville County since 2014, according to her campaign website. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Calvary University, a Christian liberal arts institution in Kansas City, Missouri. Her grandfathers both worked on the Manhattan Project at the Hanford Nuclear Site, and her father worked as a nuclear engineer, according to her campaign announcement published by the Gem State Chronicle.

Golden began a career in Christian radio in 1998 and has more than 20 years of experience in the radio industry, as reported by Idaho Education News. She has also served in community outreach and fundraising at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission and works as an administrator at OutWest Bible Church in Idaho Falls, according to the Gem State Chronicle.

Political Career

Golden has not previously held elected office. She ran against incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen in the May 2024 Republican primary for House District 32A, finishing second with 32 percent of the vote, or 2,184 votes, behind Mickelsen’s 60 percent, or 4,089 votes. Sean Crystal received 7 percent, as reported by East Idaho News. She filed again for the 2026 cycle, setting up a second consecutive primary challenge against Mickelsen, per Ballotpedia.

Policy Positions

Golden’s campaign website identifies three top priorities: the sanctity of life, freedom in education, and Idaho First immigration policies.

On abortion, she supports Idaho’s Defense of Life Act and frames the right to life as the first God-given right guaranteed by the Constitution. She also calls for stronger sentencing requirements for perpetrators of sexual assault, domestic violence, and crimes against children and vulnerable adults.

On education, she supports not just school choice but what she describes as “excellent options that meet students where their learning strengths are,” including arts, technical skills, and American history. She supports parents’ ability to make educational decisions for their families, as stated on her campaign website.

On fiscal policy, Golden supports reduced government spending, property tax relief for seniors and paid-off homes, and developing income sources to reduce dependence on federal dollars. On health, her website states opposition to government and employer mandates for vaccines and masks under a “your body, your choice” framework.

On natural resources, she supports prioritizing East Idaho water for East Idaho users first and calls for Idaho citizens to be the primary beneficiaries of the state’s timber, mineral, and land resources. On energy, she supports nuclear power alongside other clean and affordable energy sources.

In her campaign announcement, Golden criticized incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen for voting against school choice legislation, opposing voter ID, and supporting what she characterized as allowing men in women’s bathrooms, as reported by the Gem State Chronicle.

Political Alignment

Golden is a Conservative Activist. Her campaign website states that she “stands for the Flag and kneels to God alone” and that she believes “ultimate Truth and Law is found in the Bible,” framing her candidacy in explicitly religious constitutional terms. Her challenge to Mickelsen is mounted from the right, targeting the incumbent’s votes against school choice, voter ID, and other positions associated with the activist wing of the Idaho Republican Party. Her policy platform, which includes health freedom, education choice, and Idaho-first immigration, aligns with the constellation of issues the far-right legislative network has used to challenge traditional conservative Republicans in primary races across Idaho. Her endorsements are from community members affiliated with OutWest Bible Church, and her campaign announcement was distributed through the Gem State Chronicle, a publication associated with the Idaho Freedom Caucus network.

Campaign and Endorsements

As of April 2026, no formal organizational endorsements for Golden’s 2026 campaign have been publicly reported. Golden’s campaign treasurer is listed as Josh Golden. She faces incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen and fellow challenger Sean Crystal in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

FAQ

Who is Kelly Golden, Idaho? Kelly Golden is a Republican challenger from Idaho Falls running for Idaho House District 32A in the May 2026 primary. She has worked in Christian radio for more than 20 years, serves as an administrator at OutWest Bible Church, and is challenging incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen for the second consecutive election cycle.

What district is Kelly Golden running in? Golden is running in Idaho House District 32A, which covers a significant portion of rural Bonneville County.

Is Kelly Golden an incumbent? No. Golden has not previously held elected office. She is challenging two-term Republican incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen.

What are Kelly Golden’s political positions? Golden’s top priorities are the sanctity of life, freedom in education, and Idaho First immigration policies. She also supports property tax relief, health freedom from government mandates, East Idaho water retention, nuclear energy, and Second Amendment rights, as outlined on her campaign website.

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