Stephanie Mickelsen

Stephanie Mickelsen is a Republican state representative from Idaho Falls, currently serving her second term in the Idaho House of Representatives for District 32 Seat A. The district covers Idaho Falls and portions of Bonneville County. She is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against Kelly Golden.

Background

Mickelsen is a seventh-generation Idahoan born in Idaho Falls. She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1987 and earned an associate degree in economics from Brigham Young University–Idaho. She is the Chief Financial Officer and co-operator of Mickelsen Farms, a family potato, seed potato, canola, and wheat operation she has run with her husband Mark for approximately 38 years. She has implemented advanced irrigation technologies including telemetry and evapotranspiration monitoring. The Mickelsens were inducted into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2025. She and Mark have four children and multiple grandchildren. Her community and industry service includes Idaho Farm Bureau State Director, Chair of the American Farm Bureau Labor Committee, Bonneville County Farm Bureau President, trustee of the College of Eastern Idaho, chair of the Bonneville-Jefferson Ground Water District, chair of the Idaho Ground Water Association, and a seat on the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center board.

Political Career

Mickelsen took office December 1, 2022, and was re-elected in 2024 with 60.3 percent of the primary vote, running unopposed in the general. Her committee assignments are Resources & Conservation, House State Affairs, and Transportation & Defense. She played a key negotiating role in the 2024 groundwater–surface water mitigation agreement that prevented curtailment of irrigation water for thousands of acres. In 2025 she sponsored House Bill 378, requiring legislators, legislators-elect, and candidates to disclose out-of-state travel funded by outside entities for governmental or policy purposes; the bill passed the House 47–22 after contentious debate. She has reported voting with the Republican majority approximately 89 percent of the time.

Policy Positions

Mickelsen's campaign platform emphasizes a competitive tax structure, equitable property taxes, limited government, local control in education, sustainable growth, and water and agricultural policy informed by her decades of farming. On regulation she writes: "I have operated businesses for the past 38 years, the amount of government regulations have continued to grow exponentially. Free markets will generally dictate the needs of a society better than government regulations." On agricultural labor and immigration, she has testified about the practical reliance of Idaho agriculture on the legal seasonal guest-worker program and the unpopularity of certain farm jobs among domestic workers, telling a legislative hearing: "If you think that you haven't been touched by an illegal immigrant's hands in some way... you are kidding yourself." In 2026 primary debates, she emphasized clarifying statutory language to protect physicians in life-threatening pregnancy cases. She has called for stronger employment-verification systems against fraudulent documents and has opposed budget cuts she warns would weaken state police, eliminate specialized teams, or reduce emergency response.

Political Alignment

Mickelsen is endorsed by Governor Brad Little. Her donor coalition reflects an agriculture, business, healthcare, and first-responder profile. Per Idaho Sunshine 2026 contributions, PAC support includes Idaho Cattle PAC, Idaho Potato Industry PAC, Idaho Hospital Association PAC, Boise Firefighters Local 149 PAC, Professional Firefighters of Idaho, and the Idaho House Republican Caucus. Documented endorsements include the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation PAC, Idaho Cattlemen Association, Idaho Fraternal Order of Police, Idaho Falls Fire Fighters PAC, and the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry.

Campaign and Endorsements

Mickelsen is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary against Kelly Golden in a rematch of the 2024 primary. Per Idaho Sunshine, her 2026 committee has raised approximately $46,195 from 63 donors. The general election is November 3, 2026.