Marla Palmer

Marla Palmer: Idaho Democratic Candidate for House District 25A

Marla Palmer is a Democratic candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives District 25A, which covers portions of Twin Falls in the Magic Valley. Palmer lives in the Twin Falls area and is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary, per the Twin Falls County official voter pamphlet. She will face the winner of the Republican primary among Grayson Stone, Andrew Messer, Josh Callen, and Zaine Newberry in the November 3, 2026, general election. Palmer has not previously held elected office.

Background

Palmer holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Montana College, now Montana State University Billings, per her Twin Falls County voter pamphlet submission. She is a business owner and serves as President of MDC Magic Valley, an organization providing services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Twin Falls region. Her leadership of MDC directly informs her campaign's emphasis on Medicaid and disability healthcare access.

Political Career

Palmer has not previously held elected office. The 2026 House District 25A race is her first campaign for the Idaho Legislature.

Policy Positions

Palmer's documented priorities draw from her voter pamphlet statement and the IVG candidate profile's description of her campaign platform. On healthcare, Palmer has made protecting Medicaid expansion a central campaign commitment. Her professional role at MDC Magic Valley gives her direct experience with how Medicaid policy affects individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in the Magic Valley. On agriculture and small business, she has stated she supports local agriculture and small businesses and wants to ensure policies keep Idaho families able to succeed. On infrastructure, she has called for improving infrastructure to support the community's needs. On natural resources, she has stated a commitment to protecting Idaho's natural resources.

Political Alignment

Palmer is a Mainstream Democrat. Her platform combines Medicaid protection, agricultural support, and small business advocacy — priorities that reflect both the practical concerns of a Magic Valley community organization leader and the broader Democratic emphasis on healthcare access. Her framing emphasizes shared community values and practical problem-solving over ideological positioning.

Campaign and Endorsements

Palmer is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026, Democratic primary for District 25A. No formal endorsements have been publicly reported as of April 2026. Campaign finance records are available through the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine database.