Nate Roberts

Nate Roberts: Democratic Nominee for Idaho House District 29 Seat B

Nate Roberts won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for Idaho House District 29 Seat B without opposition, receiving 1,943 votes, according to certified Idaho Secretary of State results. He faces Republican Jennifer Miles in the November 3, 2026 general election. Miles won her own primary by defeating sitting Rep. Tanya Burgoyne, 1,814 votes to 1,774, a 40-vote margin — meaning Roberts's general-election opponent is Miles, not Burgoyne.

Path Back to the Ballot

Roberts served one term in the Idaho House, from December 2022 to December 2024. He won his first election in 2022, defeating Republican Jake Stevens by 112 votes, 7,321 to 7,209, after running unopposed in that year's primary. He lost his 2024 re-election bid to Burgoyne, 10,359 votes to 11,498, according to the certified statewide canvass. While in office, he served on the House Agricultural Affairs, Commerce and Human Resources, and Health and Welfare committees.

Background

Roberts has been an electrician since 1991, working across the western United States and, at one point, in Australia, according to his campaign website. Earlier in his career he worked at a formaldehyde plant after high school before completing an electrical apprenticeship in Los Angeles. He became involved with the Pocatello Central Labor Council and eventually ran for its presidency. He wrote that his father managed chemical plants, which required the family to move frequently when he was growing up, including time in New Mexico. He met his wife, Kirsten Lopez, when he was 17; they have two children and he is now a grandfather. He has named Mark Nye, James Ruchti, Richard Stallings, and Steve Landon as mentors who encouraged him to run for the Idaho House.

Stated Positions

On his 2022 victory, Roberts wrote on his campaign site: "In 2022, I won a close election by 112 votes." He describes his legislative record in his own words as having helped pass the Idaho LAUNCH workforce-training program and having helped stop attempts to repeal or weaken Medicaid expansion in 2023 and 2024.

His campaign platform centers on workers' rights and economic dignity, including opposition to wage theft and "right to work" policy and support for workplace-safety and workers' compensation reform; public schools, apprenticeships, and higher education, including expanding apprenticeships and the Idaho LAUNCH program; local control and affordable housing; and fair taxation, including eliminating the state grocery tax and "keeping public lands in public hands." On individual rights, his site states: "Our choices are our choices, and as long as they cause no harm to others, they are fundamental human rights."

Endorsements

Roberts's campaign website displays an endorsement statement from United Steelworkers: "We believe your values align with United Steelworkers and we feel your commitment to the advancement of workers' rights makes you an ideal endorsement for our organization." Conservation Voters for Idaho has also named him a "Conservation Champion" endorsee.

Campaign Finance

Roberts's 2026 campaign finance filings with the Idaho Secretary of State's Sunshine portal show a beginning cash balance of $27,765.98, total contributions of $56,489.25, and total expenditures of $41,802.87, leaving an ending cash balance of $29,001.48 and no debt. His largest contributors, at $2,000 each, include former state Sen. Melissa Wintrow, the Idaho Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, former House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, the Bannock County Democratic Central Committee, Solidarity PAC, Rep. Chris Mathias, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302-SPF, SMART TD PAC, John Paschke, and the Gem State Victory Fund.

Sources

• Idaho Secretary of State, certified results for the May 19, 2026 primary election
• Idaho Secretary of State, election canvass database
• Idaho State Legislature, member page for Nate Roberts's 2024 term
• Nate Roberts for Idaho House, campaign website
• Idaho Secretary of State Sunshine portal, 2026 campaign finance filings for Nate Roberts