Steve Berch

Steve Berch: Idaho Democratic Incumbent for House District 15A

Steve Berch is a Democrat from Boise serving his fourth term in the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 15A, which covers West Boise and East Meridian. He is seeking a fifth term in 2026, running unopposed in the May 19 Democratic primary. He will face Republican Steve Keyser in the November 3 general election, per Ballotpedia — a rematch of their 2022 contest.

Background

Berch earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the State University of New York at Albany and an MBA in management information systems from the University of Minnesota, as listed on his Idaho Legislature member profile. He worked at Hewlett-Packard in Boise for over 30 years in roles including computer programmer, marketing manager, strategic business planner, and global program manager. He subsequently founded Steve Berch Consulting LLC, providing business planning and process consulting for local companies. He and his wife Leslie have been married for more than 40 years and have one daughter, per his campaign website.

Berch has lived in West Boise’s District 15 for more than 44 years. Before his legislative career, he was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boise Auditorium District in 2013, which oversees the Boise Centre convention facility, and served as vice president of the West Valley Neighborhood Association.

Political Career

Berch won election to the Idaho House in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Lynn Luker with 54.5 percent of the vote, per Ballotpedia. It was his fifth attempt at a legislative seat, following unsuccessful campaigns in District 14B in 2010, District 15B in 2012, and District 15A in both 2014 and 2016. He is the first Democrat ever elected from District 15, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than two to one, as noted on his campaign website. He was re-elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024. In 2025, the House Democratic caucus elected him Assistant Minority Leader.

Berch currently serves on the House Business, Local Government, Revenue and Taxation, and Ways and Means committees, and is a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, the only equally bipartisan committee in the Idaho Legislature, per his official Legislature profile. He previously served on the House Education Committee.

During the 2025 session, Berch publicly opposed House Bill 93, the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit. In House committee debate, as reported by Idaho Education News, he argued the bill lacked performance accountability and had no enforceable cap on future program growth. He also opposed a proposed $400 million income tax cut during the 2025 session, telling the committee via the Idaho Capital Sun that he was uncertain whether the state could afford such a revenue reduction while maintaining public school budgets and other core services, particularly given uncertainty about federal funding.

During the 2026 session, Berch opposed House Bill 559, which conformed Idaho’s tax code to the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax changes. As the only Democrat on the Revenue and Taxation Committee, he voted against the bill, saying it would deepen the state’s budget cuts. “It’s very clear that we’re cutting budgets, and this bill will just continue that process,” he told the committee. “And it’s not just trimming fat. It’s cutting bone and muscle.”

Policy Positions

Public education funding has been Berch’s signature issue throughout his legislative tenure. In a column for Idaho Education News, he argued that reviewing Idaho’s $2 billion-per-year matrix of sales tax exclusions could generate hundreds of millions of additional dollars annually for schools, writing that even a 5 percent reduction in exemptions could make $250 million available for education. He has consistently framed directing public funds to private institutions as dismantling public education.

On fiscal policy, Berch brings the perspective of his Hewlett-Packard career to his committee work on Revenue and Taxation and JLOC. He described himself to Idaho Education News in October 2024 as a critical legislative thinker who applies long-term analytical skills to evaluating state spending. His JLOC membership involves commissioning independent performance evaluations of state programs through the Office of Performance Evaluations.

On public lands, Berch opposes efforts to transfer or sell Idaho’s public lands, a position he has held since before his first election, per his Conservation Voters for Idaho endorsement in 2016.

Political Alignment

Berch is classified as a Liberal Democrat. His consistent opposition to private school funding mechanisms, support for education spending through tax policy reform, and floor and committee votes against successive tax cut proposals place him within the liberal wing of the Idaho House Democratic caucus. His continued re-election in a heavily Republican district and his business-oriented background give his positions a pragmatic framing, but his voting record and public statements align closely with the Idaho House Democratic caucus across multiple sessions.

Campaign and Endorsements

The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorsed Berch in October 2024, describing him as well-spoken and knowledgeable on Idaho issues. Conservation Voters for Idaho endorsed him in 2016 at the start of his legislative campaigns. Ballotpedia did not identify formal endorsements for his 2022, 2024, or 2026 campaigns.

FAQ

Who is Steve Berch? Steve Berch is a Democratic member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 15A in West Boise. First elected in 2018, he is currently serving his fourth term and holds the position of House Assistant Minority Leader.

What district does Steve Berch represent? Berch represents Idaho House District 15A, covering West Boise and East Meridian in Ada County.

Is Steve Berch an incumbent? Yes. Berch has held District 15A since 2018 and is seeking a fifth term in 2026.

What committees does Steve Berch serve on? He serves on the House Business, Local Government, Revenue and Taxation, and Ways and Means committees, and is a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee.

What has Steve Berch accomplished or sponsored in the Idaho Legislature? Berch has focused primarily on public education funding and fiscal accountability. He has been a consistent opponent of legislation directing public funds to private schools and has used his Revenue and Taxation and JLOC roles to advocate for scrutiny of state tax expenditures. In 2025, the House Democratic caucus elected him Assistant Minority Leader.

2024 General Election Results Berch 10,986 / Tipton 9,259

2022 General Election Results Berch 9,979 / Keyser 9,278

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