Ron Mendive

Ron Mendive: Idaho Republican Incumbent for House District 5A

Ron Mendive is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives seeking an eighth term in District 5A, which covers the Coeur d’Alene area in Kootenai County. Mendive lives in Coeur d’Alene and has represented the district or its predecessor since 2012, making him one of the longest-serving members of the current Idaho House. He is running unopposed in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary and no general election challenger had been identified at the time of publication, as confirmed on his Ballotpedia profile.

Background

Mendive was born in Elko, Nevada, and has been a resident of Idaho since 1955. He graduated from Kellogg High School and attended North Idaho College. His career spans mining, logging, and building custom homes, and he remains semi-retired operating a seasonal construction and land services business. He was also a principal in a corporation that developed and patented what he describes as the first successful self-igniting pellet stove, as noted on his Idaho Legislature member page. He has served five terms as a precinct committeeman in Kootenai County. He and his wife Sherlene have three children and six grandchildren.

Political Career

Mendive was first elected to the Idaho House in 2012, representing what was then District 3A. After redistricting following the 2020 census, he moved to District 5A and has continued winning re-election, as documented on his Ballotpedia profile. His 2024 re-election saw him defeat Democrat Kristy Reed Johnson and independent Robert Nonini in the general election.

He currently chairs the House Resources and Conservation Committee and also serves on the Agricultural Affairs and Education committees, per the Idaho Legislature’s committee listings. His Resources and Conservation chairmanship gives him significant influence over water, public lands, fish and wildlife, and natural resource policy in Idaho.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation recognized Mendive as one of the most conservative legislators during the 2013 legislative session, as noted on his VoteSmart profile. He holds an NRA “A” rating.

Policy Positions

Mendive’s publicly stated priorities, drawn from his Idaho Republican Party candidate profile and legislative record, center on property tax relief, school choice, natural resources, and limited government.

On property taxes, he has called for major structural relief, specifically noting support for proposals to remove property taxes from primary residences for Idaho residents, citing the burden on those with fixed incomes.

On education, he supports Education Savings Accounts that would allow state education funding to follow students to the school of their choice.

On natural resources, his chairmanship of the House Resources and Conservation Committee reflects a long-standing focus on public lands policy, water rights, and resource management in north Idaho.

Political Alignment

Mendive is a Conservative Activist. His IFF recognition as among the most conservative legislators in the 2013 session, his NRA “A” rating, his school choice positions, and his property tax elimination advocacy are consistent with the activist conservative platform. His seven terms and committee chairmanship reflect a governing dimension as well, but the overall pattern of his stated positions and organizational recognition places him within the Conservative Activist classification.

Campaign and Endorsements

Mendive is seeking an eighth term and is running without identified primary or general election challengers, as confirmed on Ballotpedia. No formal organizational endorsements for his 2026 campaign had been publicly reported at the time of publication. The general election is November 3, 2026.

FAQ

Who is Ron Mendive, Idaho? Ron Mendive is a Republican state representative from Coeur d’Alene serving his seventh consecutive term in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 5A. He is a semi-retired contractor who has represented north Idaho in the legislature since 2012 and currently chairs the House Resources and Conservation Committee.

What district does Ron Mendive represent? Mendive represents House District 5A, which covers the Coeur d’Alene area in Kootenai County.

Is Ron Mendive an incumbent? Yes. Mendive was first elected in 2012 and is seeking an eighth term in 2026. He is running without a primary or general election challenger.

What committees does Ron Mendive serve on? Mendive chairs the House Resources and Conservation Committee and also serves on the Agricultural Affairs and Education committees, per the Idaho Legislature’s committee listings.

What are Ron Mendive’s main policy positions? Mendive’s stated priorities include property tax relief, school choice through Education Savings Accounts, natural resource and public lands policy, and limited government conservatism.

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