Kyle N. Harris

Kyle Harris: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 7A

Kyle Harris is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 7A, which covers parts of north-central Idaho including Lewiston. Harris lives in Lewiston and is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, where he faces a challenge from former Lewiston mayor Mike Collins. Democrat Larry Nostrant is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Harris was first elected to the seat in 2024.

Background

Harris was born and raised in Washington state and moved to Orofino from Kent, Washington in 2010, before later settling in Lewiston. He is the owner and operator of Modern Electric, an electrical contracting business in Lewiston, and described himself to the Lewiston Tribune during his first campaign as "just a regular blue-collar dude." Harris is married and has two children who attend schools in the Lewiston School District, according to his Idaho State Legislature member profile. Before his legislative service, his only elected position was as Republican committeeperson for Precinct 6 in Nez Perce County. His campaign website describes his priorities as limiting government growth, lowering taxes, and reducing regulation.

Political Career

Harris was first elected to the Idaho House in November 2024 after defeating Jim Chmelik of Cottonwood in the Republican primary and defeating Democrat Vickie Nostrant in the general election with 75.4 percent of the vote. Incumbent Rep. Mike Kingsley withdrew from the primary and endorsed Harris, who inherited the seat in a district that had been represented by Kingsley since 2016. During the 2025 legislative session, Harris served on the House Business, Education, and Transportation and Defense committees. For the 2026 session, he was appointed to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, the powerful budget-writing panel. He currently serves on Appropriations, Business, and Transportation and Defense. In February 2026, Harris was named the Idaho GOP's legislative liaison to the House by Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, who said Harris "has quickly proven himself as a trusted conservative voice with the ability to get things done." The role is intended to coordinate between state party grassroots resolutions and House legislative priorities. During the 2026 session on JFAC, Harris favored the committee's higher revenue projection because, he said, it would leave more room for tax cuts and full compliance with federal tax changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He voted against Idaho National Guard tuition assistance funding, saying the committee lacked proper information to make the decision, and pushed to cut four positions in a proposed agency consolidation, a proposal other legislators criticized as potentially costing Idaho nuclear energy development opportunities. He is also co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation with Rep. Monica Church to improve tracking of education dollars.

Policy Positions

On education and diversity policy, Harris supported Senate Bill 1198, which bans DEI-related hiring and admissions at Idaho's public colleges and universities and prevents most schools from requiring DEI classes. During House floor debate, Harris said the bill "wouldn't limit what can be taught in classrooms, but it does prohibit colleges and universities from requiring DEI-related classes." He added: "DEI is no longer about diversity, equity and inclusion. It doesn't do any of that anymore, because all it does is divide, exclude and isolate people into little groups so they can be angry at each other." On language policy, Harris co-sponsored House Joint Resolution 6, a constitutional amendment that would make English the official language of Idaho. The resolution passed both chambers and placed the amendment on the November 2026 ballot. On fiscal policy, Harris's campaign website states that his JFAC work helped cut government spending by 4 percent in the 2026 budget and 5 percent for 2027. His stated legislative priorities include strengthening Fourth Amendment rights, holding employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers, and increasing accountability in school spending. On term limits, Harris signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge in April 2024.

Political Alignment

Kyle Harris is a Conservative Activist. The classification is supported by multiple documented indicators. Harris is a member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus, listed on the caucus's official membership page, and describes himself on his campaign website as a "proud member of the Idaho Freedom Caucus." He has also signed the Citizens Alliance of Idaho Pledge. Harris earned a B grade from the Idaho Freedom Foundation's 2025 Freedom Index, placing him among the top-scoring Republicans in the House. His 2026 campaign is supported by the Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC, Idaho Freedom PAC, Citizens Alliance of Idaho, and the Nez Perce County Republican Central Committee. His appointment as Idaho GOP legislative liaison by Chairwoman Dorothy Moon aligns him formally with the party's grassroots activist apparatus.

Campaign and Endorsements

During his 2024 campaign, Harris received endorsements from outgoing Rep. Mike Kingsley, then-head of Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC, Sen. Cindy Carlson, and Idaho Freedom PAC. The Nez Perce County Republican Central Committee also vetted and recommended Harris as a conservative Republican. The Idaho Freedom Caucus PAC has publicly identified Harris as one of seven caucus members it is working to re-elect in 2026. Sen. Cindy Carlson has been identified as a top donor to his campaign.