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 District 15A, which covers West Boise and East Meridian. He is running for re-election in 2026. Berch is unopposed in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary and will face Republican Steve Keyser in the November 3 general election, according to Ballotpedia.

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 profile. 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. Following his HP career, he founded Steve Berch Consulting LLC, providing business planning and process consulting services. He has lived in West Boise’s District 15 for more than 44 years, according to his campaign website.

Before his legislative career, Berch served a six-year elected term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boise Auditorium District beginning in 2013, which oversees the Boise Centre convention facility. He also served as vice president of the West Valley Neighborhood Association.

Political Career

Berch first won election to the Idaho House in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Lynn Luker with 54.5 percent of the vote on his fifth attempt at a legislative seat, as documented by Wikipedia. He had previously run unsuccessfully for House seats in Districts 14B (2010) and 15B (2012), and for District 15A in 2014 and 2016. He is described by multiple news sources as the first Democrat ever elected by District 15, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than two to one.

Berch was re-elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024. In 2025, the House Democratic caucus elected him to serve as Assistant Minority Leader, as noted on his campaign website. He currently serves on the House Revenue and Taxation, Business, Local Government, and Ways and Means committees, and is a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee (JLOC), the only equally bipartisan committee in the Idaho Legislature. He previously served on the House Education Committee.

During the 2025 legislative session, Berch publicly opposed House Bill 93, the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit that directed state funds to private school expenses. Speaking during committee debate, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun, he argued that the bill contained no performance accountability for recipients and no enforceable cap on future program growth. In his published 2025 session review, Berch characterized that legislative year as one of the worst in memory for Idahoans who do not align with the political right, citing what he described as growing authoritarian tendencies and a failure of the executive branch to act as a check on the legislature.

Policy Positions

Berch has made public education funding his signature issue throughout his legislative tenure. Writing as a contributor to Idaho Education News, he has argued that reviewing sales tax exclusions could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for schools and called directing public funds to private institutions “dismantling public and higher education.” On the private school tax credit specifically, he told a House committee in January 2025 that his core objection was the absence of performance accountability for students receiving state-funded scholarships.

On fiscal policy, Berch frames his approach through his business background. He has described himself to Idaho Education News in October 2024 as a critical legislative thinker who applies long-term analytical skills developed over three decades at Hewlett-Packard. He has served on the Revenue and Taxation committee and the JLOC, which commissions independent performance evaluations of state programs and agencies.

Berch holds regular constituent town halls. In February 2026, he reported via Facebook that more than 100 people attended his District 15 town hall at the start of the 2026 legislative session, calling it standing room only.

Political Alignment

Berch is classified as a Liberal Democrat. His consistent opposition to private school funding mechanisms, support for public education spending, and criticism of the Republican supermajority’s legislative direction place him within the liberal wing of the Idaho Democratic caucus. His election in a Republican-majority district and his business-oriented background give his public positions a pragmatic framing, but his voting record and floor statements on education and government accountability align with Idaho House Democratic caucus positions. He has held ACLU of Idaho scorecard ratings consistent with that classification across multiple sessions.

Campaign and Endorsements

Berch’s campaign operates at berch4idaho.com. The Idaho Statesman editorial board endorsed him in 2024, as noted in the Idaho Voter Guide’s news archive, describing him as well-spoken and knowledgeable on Idaho issues. Ballotpedia did not identify additional organizational endorsements for his 2024 or 2026 campaigns as of April 2026.

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 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 running for a fifth term in 2026.

What committees does Steve Berch serve on? He serves on the House Revenue and Taxation, Business, Local Government, 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 government accountability. He has been a consistent opponent of legislation directing public funds to private schools and has used his JLOC membership to advocate for independent performance evaluation of state programs. In 2025, the House Democratic caucus elected him Assistant Minority Leader.

2022 Primary Election Results Berch Unopposed

2022 General Election Results Berch 52.9% / Keyser 47.1%

2024 Primary Election Results Berch 1,804 / Unopposed

2024 General Election Results Berch 12,449 / Tipton 12,222