Ron Mendive

Ron Mendive is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 5 Seat A, which covers portions of Kootenai County in North Idaho, including the Coeur d'Alene area. Mendive has served continuously in the Idaho House since December 2012, including District 3A from 2012 to 2022 before redistricting. He is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary. The general election is November 3, 2026.

Background

Mendive, 74, was born in Elko, Nevada, and grew up in Idaho's Silver Valley. He graduated from Kellogg High School and attended North Idaho College, where he met his wife Sherlene approximately 54 years ago, as described on his campaign biography. They raised three children and live on acreage south of Coeur d'Alene where they built a log home. He is self-employed in land service and excavating, and previously worked in mining, logging, and construction. He helped develop technology used in an internationally marketed line of pellet stoves.

Political Career

Mendive was first elected to the Idaho House in 2012, as documented by Ballotpedia. His committee assignments have included Education; Environment, Energy & Technology; Resources & Conservation; and Commerce & Human Resources. In 2020 he was lead sponsor of a House bill, reported by the Idaho Press, exempting the Good Samaritan Rehabilitation youth residential drug treatment program — operated by then-Rep. Rev. Tim Remington of Coeur d'Alene — from state licensing requirements. Remington recused from the vote due to conflict of interest; the bill passed the House 44 to 24 on March 2, 2020.

Policy Positions

Mendive's campaign website lists three core values with limited additional policy detail: "Life" ("I believe that the founders included the pre-born in their definition of the unalienable right to life"), "Liberty" (centered on the U.S. Bill of Rights), and "Property" ("I believe in personal property rights. The ability to own property is a God given right and the corner stone of our Republic"). His closing statement on his campaign biography is: "I will continue to be your legislative representative who fights to 'Secure the Blessings of Liberty for Ourselves and our Posterity.'" His record reflects support for pro-life legislation, Constitutional Carry and other Second Amendment expansions, school choice, and parental rights bills.

Political Alignment

Mendive is Idaho Freedom Foundation-aligned. The Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index has scored Mendive in the 75 to 82 percent range across recent cycles. He voted against censuring Rep. Priscilla Giddings in 2021 alongside other North Idaho Republicans, and a 2023 Coeur d'Alene Press editorial criticized his backing of voter-integrity legislation.

Campaign and Endorsements

Independent expenditure filings on the Idaho Sunshine portal show approximately $1,339 in 2026 support for Mendive from Kootenai County Republican Central Committee and Bonner County Republican Central Committee. Idaho EdNews has documented KCRCC's broader independent-expenditure activity, with approximately $6,000 deployed across 25 candidates statewide.