Mark Harris

Mark Harris: Idaho Republican Incumbent for Senate District 35

Mark Harris is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate and Senate Assistant Majority Leader, seeking a seventh term in District 35, which covers Caribou, Bear Lake, Franklin, and Oneida counties in southeastern Idaho. Harris lives south of Soda Springs in Bear Lake County and has served in the Idaho Senate continuously since his appointment in 2015. He faces Republican challenger Doug Toomer in the May 19, 2026 primary in their third consecutive matchup.

Background

Harris is a fifth-generation Idahoan born in Montpelier. He and his wife Cheryl raised their four sons on a family cattle ranch south of Soda Springs in Bear Lake County. He is a partner with his brothers in that ranching operation and in a farm in Malta in Cassia County, where they raise beef cattle and alfalfa, as described in his candidate profile for the Idaho State Journal. He served a two-year LDS mission in Córdoba, Argentina before attending Utah State University, where he earned a BA in political science, as noted on Ballotpedia. He has served on the boards of Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, the Idaho Farm Bureau, and the Idaho Cattle Association.

Political Career

Harris was appointed to the Idaho Senate in 2015 by Gov. Butch Otter to fill the seat vacated by Sen. John Tippets, who became director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, as described on his campaign website. He has been re-elected in every cycle since, representing District 32 through 2022 and District 35 following redistricting. He defeated Doug Toomer in both the 2022 and 2024 Republican primaries, and defeated Democrat Chris Riley in the 2024 general election, as documented on Ballotpedia.

He serves as Senate Assistant Majority Leader, a position he has held since 2024, having previously served as Majority Caucus Chair from 2020 to 2024, per LegiStorm. He currently sits on the Health and Welfare, Resources and Environment, and State Affairs committees, per his Idaho Legislature member page.

His priorities as a legislator have centered on protecting southeastern Idaho’s agriculture and mining industries, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and local constituent services. He has emphasized the phosphate mining industry around Soda Springs — which he describes as a cornerstone of the local economy and nationally significant for crop production — as a policy focus, as stated on his campaign website.

Policy Positions

Harris’s publicly stated priorities, drawn from his campaign website and candidate interviews, center on protecting private property rights, limiting taxation and regulation, supporting Idaho’s agricultural and mining industries, fiscal conservatism, and keeping pace with the state’s infrastructure demands. He has backed securing the southern border, supporting law enforcement and Second Amendment rights, and expanding educational opportunities including school choice and technical education. He has framed his approach around serving constituent needs directly, including helping residents navigate issues with state agencies outside of session.

Political Alignment

Harris is a Traditional Conservative Republican. As Senate Assistant Majority Leader and a six-term veteran representing a rural agricultural and mining district, his record reflects the institutional governing mainstream of the Idaho Senate. His committee work on Health and Welfare, Resources and Environment, and State Affairs spans the policy interests of his southeastern Idaho district. His endorsements from the Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Cattle Association reflect the agricultural conservative tradition of his region.

Campaign and Endorsements

Harris faces Doug Toomer in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary in their third consecutive matchup. Harris defeated Toomer in both the 2022 primary (3,435 to 2,254) and the 2024 primary, as reported by the Idaho State Journal and Ballotpedia. No general election challenger had been identified at the time of publication. His documented affiliations include the Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Cattle Association.

FAQ

Who is Mark Harris, Idaho? Mark Harris is a Republican state senator from Soda Springs currently serving his sixth consecutive term in Idaho Senate District 35. He is a fifth-generation Idaho rancher, Senate Assistant Majority Leader, and has represented southeastern Idaho since his 2015 appointment.

What district does Mark Harris represent? Harris represents Senate District 35, which covers Caribou, Bear Lake, Franklin, and Oneida counties in southeastern Idaho.

Is Mark Harris an incumbent? Yes. Harris was first appointed in 2015 and has been elected to six consecutive terms. He is seeking a seventh term in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, where he faces Doug Toomer for the third time.

What committees does Mark Harris serve on? Harris serves on the Health and Welfare, Resources and Environment, and State Affairs committees, per his Idaho Legislature member page.

What are Mark Harris’s main policy positions? Harris’s stated priorities include protecting private property rights, limiting taxation and regulation, supporting agriculture and mining industries, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and constituent services.

2024 Primary Election Results Harris defeated Toomer

2024 General Election Results Harris defeated Riley (D)

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