Richard (Rick) Cheatum

Richard “Rick” Cheatum: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 28A

Richard “Rick” Cheatum is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives seeking a third term in District 28A. Cheatum lives in Pocatello and has represented the district since first taking office in December 2022. According to his Ballotpedia candidate profile, his current term ends on December 1, 2026, and he has declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on May 19, 2026. As reported by the Idaho State Journal, Cheatum faces challenges from Mike Saville and James Lamborn in the primary, with the winner set to face Democrat Kim Jackman in November.

Background

According to his Idaho Legislature member profile, Cheatum was born in western Kansas, raised on a farm, and moved to Idaho in 1977. His Ballotpedia profile notes that he earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism from the University of Kansas in 1972. As he described in a 2023 interview with East Idaho News, a radio job brought him to Pocatello, where he began a career in car sales before eventually working in the banking industry and retiring in 2017. His career included roles as an indirect lending manager and marketing manager at the Idaho State University Federal Credit Union, an account representative with Idaho Wireless Corp., and a Honda sales manager. In his 2022 candidate responses published by East Idaho News, he noted he was named Top Small Market Salesperson for Honda Automobiles in the Northwest Zone four times.

After retiring, Cheatum ran for the Pocatello City Council in 2017 and was elected to a second four-year term in 2021, serving as council president, as he explained in that 2023 East Idaho News interview. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Idaho Cities, representing District 5 in southeast Idaho, as noted in his 2022 candidate responses. According to his official contact listing, Cheatum is a life member of the NRA and has served as a member and chair of the Region 5 Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Feeding Committee. His Ballotpedia profile also notes that he has served as president of Portneuf Valley Pride.

Political Career

Cheatum entered the 2022 race for House Seat 28A after three-term incumbent Randy Armstrong chose not to seek re-election following redistricting, as he explained in his 2022 candidate Q&A with East Idaho News. He defeated Dawn L. Morrell in the Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election, taking office in December 2022.

As reported by East Idaho News, the district encompasses Power and Franklin counties, along with a portion of Bannock County. In 2024, Cheatum faced a contested three-way primary rematch against Lamborn and Saville, winning with approximately 40% of the vote and running unopposed in the general election.

As of the 2026 session, Cheatum serves on the Business, Local Government, and Revenue and Taxation committees, according to his Idaho Legislature member page.

During the 2023 session, Cheatum sponsored House Bill 89, a local government reform measure he drafted personally. In an op-ed published by the Preston Citizen, he described the bill as addressing a situation in Pocatello where the resignation of three city council members had left the council without a quorum and unable to conduct city business.

Policy Positions

Cheatum has commented publicly on several policy areas across his campaign appearances and media interviews.

On education funding, as reported by Idaho Education News, Cheatum has expressed concern about disparities between rural and metropolitan schools. He opposed House Bill 93, the 2025 legislation that created a $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit, describing it as a redistribution of wealth and expressing uncertainty about whether the credit would draw resources away from public schools. This position placed him in opposition to school choice advocates and aligned him with groups defending traditional public school funding.

On infrastructure and growth, Cheatum stated in his 2022 candidate responses to East Idaho News that transportation infrastructure is a major funding priority, arguing that Idaho’s growth is placing serious pressure on highways, roads, and bridges. On local government finance, he has argued that schools should be funded sufficiently at the state level to eliminate the need for bond levies to cover operating costs, and that rural and urban students deserve comparable educational opportunities. On growth management, he stated that Idaho’s economic boom cycle will eventually cool, and that state and local governments should focus on paying off debt, maintaining infrastructure, and avoiding budget extensions that cannot be sustained in a slower economy. On water, he noted that much of Idaho is high desert and that new developments should incorporate xeriscaping to minimize groundwater drawdown.

Political Alignment

Cheatum is a Traditional Conservative Republican. His opposition to House Bill 93, the 2025 Parental Choice Tax Credit, which he described as a redistribution of wealth away from public schools, reflects a governing approach that prioritizes rural school equity and institutional stability over ideologically driven reform. As reported by the Lewiston Tribune, the American Federation for Children PAC spent money opposing him in 2024 specifically because of those votes — the inverse of the pattern seen with activist-aligned candidates who draw PAC opposition from the center. His sponsorship of House Bill 89, a local government reform measure addressing a practical governance problem in Pocatello, is similarly consistent with a pragmatic, problem-solving orientation. His stated priorities around infrastructure investment, rural school funding equity, and sustainable fiscal management further reflect a record-based conservatism focused on governance outcomes rather than ideological positioning.

Campaign and Endorsements

As reported by Idaho Education News, Cheatum’s campaign spent approximately $36,020 in the 2024 primary. PACs spent a combined $73,416 opposing him, primarily related to his school choice votes, while several PACs spent a combined $26,167 in support. His Ballotpedia profile notes that no formal endorsements have been identified for Cheatum in either the 2024 or 2026 election cycles. Cheatum is seeking a third term in 2026 against the same two challengers he defeated in 2024. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Public Controversies

As reported in a 2023 East Idaho News profile, Cheatum acknowledged receiving criticism from some constituents for simultaneously holding seats on both the Pocatello City Council and the Idaho Legislature. Some residents characterized the arrangement as double-dipping, though Cheatum disputed that characterization and argued the critics misunderstood how the system works. His council term expired in 2025.

FAQ

Who is Rick Cheatum in Idaho politics? Richard “Rick” Cheatum is a Republican state representative from Pocatello serving his second term in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 28A. He is running for a third term in the May 2026 primary.

What district does Rick Cheatum represent? Cheatum represents House District 28A, which covers Power and Franklin counties and a portion of Bannock County in southeast Idaho.

Is Rick Cheatum an incumbent or a challenger? Cheatum is an incumbent, first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024.

What committees does Rick Cheatum serve on? As of the 2026 legislative session, Cheatum serves on the Business, Local Government, and Revenue and Taxation committees in the Idaho House, according to his Idaho Legislature member page.

What is Rick Cheatum’s position on school choice? Cheatum has opposed proposals to use state funds for private K-12 education. He voted against the 2025 Parental Choice Tax Credit, citing concerns about rural school equity and the potential redistribution of public education resources, as reported by Idaho Education News.

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