Ryan Augusta

Ryan Augusta: Idaho Democratic Candidate for House District 6A

Ryan Augusta is a Democrat running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 6A, which covers portions of Latah, Nez Perce, and Lewis counties in northern Idaho. Augusta lives in Genesee and is a challenger with no prior state legislative experience. He is one of three Democrats competing in the May 19, 2026, primary for the open seat vacated by Republican Rep. Lori McCann, who filed for the District 6 Senate race. His Democratic primary opponents are Bryce Blankenship and Trish Carter-Goodheart. The Republican primary field for the same seat includes former Rep. Cindy Agidius and Colton Bennett, per Ballotpedia.

Background

Augusta was born in Kalispell, Montana, and attended Flathead High School. According to his candidate survey, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1996 to 2001 as an E-3 Private First Class in the 88th Quartermaster unit in Kalispell, with a specialty as a motor transport operator. He entered through the Delayed Entry Program and holds Chapter 6 veteran status. He later earned an associate degree from Spokane Community College in 2023.

Augusta has worked as a home care assistance caregiver since 2017, providing direct care services for seniors and individuals with disabilities. He has also worked for AmeriCorps VISTA and founded Reminiscence Theater. He is the sole member of U.clean, LLC, a small cleaning business he operated from 2020 to 2023. He has organized hemp-related public events in the region, including co-founding Boise Hempfest and serving as master of ceremonies for Moscow Hempfest, an event focused on hemp policy awareness and agricultural development. He is affiliated with Evergreen Rotary, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Trinity Reformed Church.

Political Career

Augusta has not held elected state or federal office. He ran in the 2024 Democratic primary for House District 6A, which was won by Trish Carter-Goodheart. Augusta subsequently appeared on the November 2024 general election ballot alongside Carter-Goodheart, with both losing to incumbent Republican Lori McCann, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's election records. He is now seeking the Democratic nomination for the same open seat in 2026.

Policy Positions

Augusta has stated support for accessibility measures in public meetings, including accommodations such as live captions and virtual participation options for residents with disabilities, as outlined in his 2025 candidate survey. He has expressed support for senior services and age-friendly healthcare infrastructure, and for small business development through employment training and cooperative economic models.

On cannabis, Augusta has publicly supported legalization, stating it would reduce crime. On agriculture, his campaign has referenced hemp as a growing sector for rural Idaho communities. He signed the U.S. Term Limits congressional term limits pledge in 2025, committing to support a constitutional convention for that purpose if elected, according to U.S. Term Limits.

As of April 2026, Augusta has not published detailed public statements on education funding, Medicaid, public lands, or tax policy. This section will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Political Alignment

Augusta is running under the Democratic Party label and is classified here as a Mainstream Democrat based on his party affiliation and stated priorities around healthcare access, disability services, and senior support. His public positioning is eclectic, combining Democratic platform elements with positions more commonly associated with libertarian or independent voters, including cannabis legalization, congressional term limits, and an explicit self-description in his 2025 candidate survey as a "constitutional conservative." No documented ties to progressive activist organizations have emerged in available sources.

Campaign and Endorsements

As of April 2026, no individual or organizational endorsements for Augusta's 2026 campaign have been publicly reported. His campaign website is augustaforidaho.com. No campaign finance contributions or expenditures have been reported through the Idaho Sunshine system as of the most recent available filing.

Certified results from the Idaho Secretary of State show Ryan Augusta received 84 votes, or 3.19 percent, in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for Idaho House District 6A, and did not win the nomination.