Steve Berch
Idaho House of Representatives, District 15 Seat A
Steve Berch, Democratic incumbent and House assistant minority leader, seeks fifth term in Idaho House District 15
Rep. Steve Berch, the Democratic incumbent for Idaho House District 15, Seat A, is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot against Republican Steve Keyser, the same opponent Berch defeated in the 2022 general election, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's candidate database. Berch won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed with 2,204 votes. Keyser also ran unopposed in his primary, taking 3,051 votes.
Background
Berch has lived and worked in West Boise's District 15 for more than 40 years, according to his official Idaho Legislature biography. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the State University of New York at Albany and an M.B.A. in management information systems from the University of Minnesota.
He worked for Hewlett Packard in Boise for over 30 years. His roles there included computer programmer, marketing manager, strategic business planner, and global program manager. He now owns Steve Berch Consulting LLC, which provides business planning and process consulting for local companies.
In 2013, Berch was elected to a six-year term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boise Auditorium District, which oversees Boise's convention center, the Boise Centre on the Grove. He served as the board's vice president. He and his wife, Leslie, have been married more than 40 years. Their daughter, Katie, lives in Idaho and works as a teacher.
Legislative record
Berch first won this seat in 2018 after four unsuccessful runs, beginning in 2010. He has not lost a general election since and has been unopposed in every primary he has entered. He is in his fourth term, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's elections database.
In 2025, the House Democratic caucus elected him assistant minority leader, the number two position among House Democrats.
Berch sits on the House Revenue and Taxation, Business, Local Government, and Ways and Means committees. He is also a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, which oversees the Office of Performance Evaluations. He previously spent six years on the House Education Committee.
Where he stands
In a 2026 general election survey from CBS2/FOX9, Berch listed his district priorities as public education funding, the gap between low-paying jobs and cost of living, unaffordable housing, eliminating the grocery tax, healthcare access including mental health services, growth management, and public lands access.
His central fiscal argument concerns tax policy. "The legislature has reduced state revenue by over $60 billion in property and sales tax exclusions since 2012 that never get reviewed and never expire," Berch wrote in the survey. "Idaho is one of a minority of states that has no review process for its tax breaks."
On constituent outreach, Berch described his approach in an interview with the Idaho Capital Sun: "When you've knocked on 42,000 doors, when you send out very detailed newsletters that explain the reasons why you vote on bills, when you hold three in-person town hall meetings every year, people appreciate that."
In his closing statement in the same survey, Berch wrote: "I believe in our republican form of government: representing the people, not myself or special interests." He added that if re-elected, he will "continue to use logic, reason, and critical thinking as your representative."
Campaign finance
As of May 11, 2026, Berch had raised $168,287 during the 2026 election year, the highest total of any Idaho legislative candidate this cycle, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. Keyser had raised $6,558 as of the same date. Berch attributed his fundraising to direct engagement with constituents, telling the Capital Sun he felt "very honored and very humbled" by the support.
District 15 covers West Boise and East Meridian. Berch has been the only Democrat representing the district for the past two years, with Republicans holding the other two legislative seats. The Idaho Capital Sun describes it as an "ultra competitive swing district."
Sources
- Idaho Secretary of State's elections database, certified results for Berch's primaries and general elections
- Idaho State Legislature, official biography, Berch's education, HP career, consulting business, and committee assignments
- Idaho State Legislature, House leadership page, his role as assistant minority leader
- Idaho Capital Sun, 2026 campaign finance totals for Berch and Keyser, district context, and the doorknocking quote
- CBS2/FOX9 candidate survey, his stated priorities and tax policy positions
- Berch campaign site, family details
Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 26, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- QWhat office is Steve Berch running for in 2026?
- AHe is the Democratic incumbent seeking a fifth term as state representative for Idaho House District 15, Seat A, which covers West Boise and East Meridian. He has held the seat since first winning it in 2018 and is currently in his fourth term. The general election is November 3, 2026.
- QWho is Steve Berch's opponent?
- ARepublican Steve Keyser is on the November ballot against him. Keyser won his primary unopposed with 3,051 votes, according to the Idaho Secretary of State. The two men also faced each other in the 2022 general election, which Berch won 52.9% to 47.1%.
- QHas Steve Berch held elected office before?
- AYes. He is the sitting representative for District 15, Seat A, and has been since 2018. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boise Auditorium District, elected in 2013 to a six-year term, and was the board's vice president.
- QWhat committees does Steve Berch serve on?
- AHe sits on the House Revenue and Taxation, Business, Local Government, and Ways and Means committees, plus the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee. He spent six years on the House Education Committee earlier in his tenure. In 2025, his caucus elected him House assistant minority leader.
- QWhat does Steve Berch do for a living?
- AHe owns Steve Berch Consulting LLC, which provides business planning and process consulting for local companies. Before that, he worked at Hewlett Packard in Boise for more than 30 years in roles including computer programmer, marketing manager, strategic business planner, and global program manager.
- QWhat are Steve Berch's main policy positions?
- AHe lists public education funding, housing affordability, eliminating the grocery tax, healthcare access, growth management, and public lands access as his district priorities. On fiscal policy, he calls for a periodic review process for the state's tax exclusions, which he says have never been reviewed since 2012.
- QHow much money has Steve Berch raised in 2026?
- AAs of May 11, 2026, he had raised $168,287, the most of any Idaho legislative candidate this cycle, per the Idaho Capital Sun. His opponent, Steve Keyser, had raised $6,558 as of the same date.