Idaho General Election · November 3, 2026Find polling place
Independent

Sarah Zabel

Sarah Zabel

U.S. House District 1

Sarah Zabel, independent candidate for U.S. House, Idaho District 1

Sarah Zabel, a retired Air Force major general from Bayview, is an independent candidate for Idaho's 1st Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. She filed on February 24, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State's filed-candidates search lists the filing as approved. She had no primary contest. Her opponents are Republican incumbent Russ Fulcher, Democrat Kaylee Peterson and Constitution Party candidate Brendan J. Gomez.

Background

Her U.S. Air Force biography says she earned her commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987 and was promoted to major general on November 2, 2015. It lists a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Academy, a master's degree in computer science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. It says she commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and served from August 2015 to August 2017 as vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. Her listed decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.

She said in an interview published by the Sandpoint Reader on February 8, 2026: "I retired at the very end of 2018." Kirkus Reviews lists her as the author of "Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression," published in 2021, and calls her a retired major general in the U.S. Air Force.

Party history

The Coeur d'Alene Press reported in November 2025 that Zabel, "registered as a Republican throughout her military career," became an independent on leaving the service. At a September 2026 forum, according to the Coeur d'Alene Press, she said: "When I retired in 2018, I had always assumed that I was Republican."

Positions

Her campaign website lists four top priorities, including: "Fix Social Security before the funds run out. This calls for a balanced approach: raise revenue and reduce payouts for the highest earners while extending the program to more people." It also says: "Keep Idaho's public lands public. They belong to all of us, and I'll oppose efforts to sell them off or use them destructively."

The What I Stand For page says: "I support tax reform that asks more from those with the highest earnings." On health care, the health care page of her site says: "A wholesale shift to single-payer clears neither bar with confidence." She told the Sandpoint Reader: "We have to raise corporate taxes." On a corporate rate she said: "I don't have a better number, so I'll say 28% for that." On the Venezuela boat strikes she told the Sandpoint Reader: "It is illegal from the first boat strike on."

The Argonaut, a student newspaper in Moscow, reported in January 2026 that she called ICE "a criminal organization," and quoted her: "Climate change is real. It's real, it's measurable, it's a fact." It also quoted her: "I have signed the petition to get the women's reproductive rights on the Idaho Constitution."

Debates

The Idaho Capital Sun reported on August 24, 2026 that Peterson invited Fulcher and Zabel to an October 17 debate. Zabel said she would attend: "I want the people of this district to hire me to do a job, and so of course I will make my case to them in every forum I can find." Fulcher could not be reached for comment.

Endorsements and supporters

Independent Veterans of America announced its endorsement in a release datelined June 30, 2026. Its founder, Paul Rieckhoff, said: "She is an impressive, committed and serious leader that is uniting people of all backgrounds across Idaho." Veterans for Idaho Voters lists her on its endorsed candidates page. The Independent Political Report reported on August 16, 2026 that the Reform Party of the United States endorsed her.

Rod Gramer, a longtime Idaho journalist, wrote in a June 11, 2026 Idaho Capital Sun column: "Zabel is not a lightweight. She is a retired Air Force General who served her country for 31 years." The same column warned that because each of the three independent candidates also faces a Democrat, "the vote will split, and the incumbents will waltz to re-election."

Campaign finance

According to the Federal Election Commission's summary of her filings for the committee Zabel for Congress, she had raised $81,497.46 and spent $57,024.36 from October 15, 2025 through June 30, 2026, with $24,473.10 in cash on hand. The filings show $33,419.89 in contributions from the candidate and a $30,000.00 loan from the candidate, which the committee still reports as debt. Individuals gave $17,577.06, and one other committee gave $500.00.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated October 2, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Sarah Zabel running for?
She is an independent candidate for Idaho's 1st Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. Her opponents are Russ Fulcher, Kaylee Peterson and Brendan J. Gomez.
What is Sarah Zabel's background?
Her Air Force biography says she was commissioned in 1987, became a major general in 2015 and served as vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Was Sarah Zabel a Republican?
The Coeur d'Alene Press reported that she was registered as a Republican throughout her military career and became an independent on leaving the service.
Where does Sarah Zabel stand on public lands?
Her campaign website says Idaho's public lands should stay public and that she will oppose efforts to sell them off or use them destructively.
Will Sarah Zabel debate?
The Idaho Capital Sun reported that Peterson invited her and Fulcher to an October 17 debate and that Zabel said she would attend.
How much money has Sarah Zabel raised?
The FEC's summary of her filings shows $81,497.46 raised from October 15, 2025 through June 30, 2026, including a $30,000.00 loan and $33,419.89 in contributions from herself.