Mary Jo Durfee

Mary Jo Durfee: Idaho Democratic Candidate for Senate District 24

Mary Jo Durfee is a Democratic candidate running for Idaho Senate District 24 in the May 19, 2026, primary and November general election.

Senate District 24 covers rural Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas counties in southern Idaho’s Magic Valley region, represented by Republican incumbent Glenneda Zuiderveld, one of the Idaho Freedom Caucus’s most prominent members, a co-leader of the Gang of Eight, and one of the IFF network’s key allies in the Idaho Senate. Durfee is the Democratic option for Magic Valley voters seeking an alternative to Zuiderveld’s far-right leadership.

Incumbent Glenneda Zuiderveld and the IFF Network Republican incumbent Glenneda Zuiderveld is one of the Idaho Legislature’s most prominent far-right figures, serving as a co-leader of the Gang of Eight, the IFF-aligned legislative caucus that has coordinated opposition to school funding, Medicaid expansion, and traditional Republican governance in Idaho. Zuiderveld has scored consistently high on evaluations, supporting the full range of the IFF network’s agenda from anti-public education legislation to extreme anti-government fiscal positions. She also faces a Republican primary challenge from Brent Reinke, representing the Republican establishment’s effort to reclaim the Senate District 24 seat that Zuiderveld captured in 2022.

Senate District 24 and the Magic Valley Communities Senate District 24 covers rural communities in Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas counties in southern Idaho’s Magic Valley region, agricultural and ranching communities along the Snake River Plain where water rights, farm policy, and rural services are the dominant concerns. The district includes communities in the Buhl, Wendell, and Gooding areas that depend directly on federal water infrastructure, agricultural programs, and state services. Durfee’s candidacy ensures that the district’s Democratic and independent voters have a general election choice between the Republican primary winner, either Zuiderveld or Reinke, and a Democratic alternative in November.

FAQ Who is Mary Jo Durfee? Mary Jo Durfee is a Democratic candidate for Idaho Senate District 24, covering rural Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas counties in the Magic Valley. She is challenging IFF-aligned Republican incumbent Glenneda Zuiderveld, a co-leader of the Gang of Eight who also faces a Republican primary challenge from Brent Reinke. Durfee provides the Democratic option in the November 2026 general election.

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026.