Kelly Golden

Kelly Golden is a Republican candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives seeking District 32 Seat A, which covers portions of Idaho Falls in Bonneville County. Golden is challenging incumbent Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen in a rematch of the 2024 Republican primary, paired with Brian McKellar in Seat B. The Republican primary is May 19, 2026, and the general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

Golden has lived, worked, and raised her family in Bonneville County since 2014, as described on her campaign website. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Calvary University, a Christian liberal arts institution in Kansas City, Missouri, and previously attended Calvary Chapel Bible College and Central Washington University. She has more than 20 years in the radio industry beginning with Christian radio in 1998, including roles up to station manager with Revelation Radio. She has worked in non-profit community outreach and fundraising at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission and serves as administrator at OutWest Bible Church in Idaho Falls. Her husband Josh Golden has served as her campaign treasurer. Per her campaign biography, her father worked as a nuclear engineer and both grandfathers worked on the Manhattan Project at the Hanford Nuclear Site.

Political Career

Golden has not previously held elected office. She first sought the District 32A seat in the 2024 Republican primary and finished second with 32 percent (2,184 votes) to incumbent Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen's 60 percent, as documented by Ballotpedia. She served as Communications Co-Chair of the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee from 2023 to 2024 and serves on the board of East Idaho Patriots from 2024 to 2026.

Policy Positions

Golden centers her platform on what she terms "Idaho First" policies prioritizing Idaho citizens and businesses, a "100% Legal Vetted Workforce," "Idaho Resources for Idaho," secure communities, and "Life is Sacred." Her platform planks include defending the preborn from conception to natural death, stronger sentencing for sexual assault and crimes against children, "Freedom in Education" with parental authority, property-tax relief for seniors, opposition to vaccination and mask mandates as "experimental," and prioritizing nuclear and hydropower energy. From her campaign site: "I'm a lifelong Republican who stands for the Flag and kneels to God alone. I will fight for Life for the young and old, I believe that God created Male and Female in His image, and that ultimate Truth and Law is found in the Bible." She scored 100 percent pro-Second Amendment on the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance 2026 primary survey. Per her February 2026 campaign launch, she has criticized Rep. Mickelsen's votes against school choice and voter ID legislation.

Political Alignment

Golden is Idaho Freedom Foundation-aligned. Idaho Freedom PAC has endorsed Golden on its 2026 primary slate. Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC is filing independent expenditures supporting her campaign. 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.

Campaign and Endorsements

Independent expenditure filings on the Idaho Sunshine portal show approximately $15,680 in 2026 support for Golden from Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC and Idaho Summit PAC. Her own committee has raised approximately $20,442 from 81 donors; key contributions include Idaho Summit PAC ($2,000), East Idaho Patriots ($1,000), Doyle Beck personally ($1,000), SMC Properties LLC ($1,000), and Stefan Gleason of Charlotte, North Carolina ($1,000). She is endorsed by Idaho Freedom PAC.