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

Steve Keyser

Steve Keyser

Idaho House of Representatives, District 15 Seat A

Campaign website:Campaign Website
Campaign finance:Campaign Finance
City:Boise

Steve Keyser: retired police officer making a third run for Idaho House District 15, Seat A

Steve Keyser, a retired police officer from Boise, is the Republican nominee for Idaho House District 15, Seat A, on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. He faces Democratic incumbent Steve Berch, who has held the seat since 2018 and is running for a fourth term. The district covers West Boise and East Meridian, an area Idaho Education News has described as Idaho's quintessential swing district.

This is Keyser's third attempt at the seat. He won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary unopposed, receiving 3,051 votes, or 100 percent of ballots cast, according to certified Idaho Secretary of State results.

Background

Keyser spent his career in law enforcement. His assignments included uniformed patrol, detective work, supervision, narcotics, crime prevention, and budgeting, according to his campaign website. He is retired.

He and his wife, Margie, live in Boise. Margie Keyser is a retired school psychologist. Their son, Josh Keyser, is a state senator representing neighboring Legislative District 20, a relationship the elder Keyser confirms on his own campaign page and in his candidate statement for the Idaho Republican Party.

In Boise, Keyser has volunteered with church benevolence projects, a food pantry, a community medical clinic, and programs supporting grandparents raising grandchildren, per his campaign site. He has also given public testimony before the Idaho Legislature in support of legislation he describes as consistent with conservative values and the Idaho Republican platform.

Electoral history

Keyser first ran for this seat in 2022. He won that year's Republican primary unopposed with 5,242 votes, then lost the November 2022 general election to Berch, 9,739 votes (52.9 percent) to 8,656 (47.1 percent), per the Secretary of State's elections database.

He filed to run again in 2024, as Idaho Education News reported during that year's filing period, but he withdrew before the primary and did not appear on the 2024 ballot. No reason for the withdrawal is on the public record.

Substitute Senate service

Keyser has brief hands-on legislative experience. In March 2026, then-Senator Codi Galloway designated him a qualified substitute for Legislative District 15 under Idaho Code 67-412, and he was sworn in to serve in her place on a temporary basis. The appointment is documented in the Idaho Senate Journal for March 5, 2026, the 53rd legislative day of the session. His campaign points to the experience as proof, in its words, that he "already knows how the process works."

Where he stands

Keyser's campaign lists three priorities.

  • Tax relief: his site calls for relief on property taxes, the grocery tax, and income taxes, arguing that incomes do not rise when home values or food costs do.
  • Parents and schools: he supports parental voice in curriculum decisions and parental authority over educational and medical decisions for their children, alongside what his site calls strong public schools with a variety of options for families.
  • Public safety: citing his law-enforcement background, he calls for reliable funding for police, fire, and EMS.

On his Idaho Republican Party candidate page, Keyser wrote that he has been a registered Republican for over forty years and framed himself against the party's internal label for such politicians. "I am not a Republican In Name Only!" he wrote there. He added, "I can not be bought, and I am beholden to no one, except the good citizens of Idaho."

His campaign site frames his approach more plainly: "Steve believes Idahoans deserve a representative who listens first, does the homework, and makes decisions based on what's actually best for the district, not political rhetoric."

Campaign engagement in 2026

Keyser did not respond to the CBS2/FOX9 candidate survey for the 2026 general election. The outlet reported in August 2026 that it contacted every candidate in the legislative races with the same questions, gave each a week to reply, and printed responses without alteration. Berch participated; Keyser's name appears on the story with a note that he "did not respond to the survey in time."

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 26, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Steve Keyser running for in 2026?
He is the Republican nominee for Idaho House District 15, Seat A, on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. The district covers part of West Boise and East Meridian in the Treasure Valley.
Who is Steve Keyser running against?
Democratic incumbent Steve Berch, who has held the seat since 2018 and defeated Keyser in the 2022 general election. Berch is running for a fourth term on the November 2026 ballot.
Has Steve Keyser run for this seat before?
Yes, this is his third attempt. He lost the 2022 general election to Berch by 1,083 votes, and he filed to run in 2024 before withdrawing before that year's primary.
What did Steve Keyser do before running for office?
He was a career police officer whose assignments included patrol, detective work, supervision, narcotics, crime prevention, and budgeting. He is retired from law enforcement.
Has Keyser ever served in the Idaho Legislature?
He has never held the seat he is seeking. However, in March 2026 he was sworn in as a temporary substitute state senator under Idaho Code 67-412, designated by then-Senator Codi Galloway, per the Idaho Senate Journal.
What are Keyser's top campaign issues?
His campaign lists three: tax relief on property taxes, the grocery tax, and income taxes; parental rights in children's educational and medical decisions alongside support for strong public schools; and public safety funding for police, fire, and EMS.
Is Steve Keyser related to Senator Josh Keyser?
Yes, per Steve Keyser's own campaign materials. Josh Keyser is his son and represents Legislative District 20, which neighbors District 15.
Did Keyser answer the 2026 candidate surveys?
No. CBS2/FOX9 reported in August 2026 that he did not respond to its general election survey in time, while his opponent did. His stated positions come from his campaign website and his Idaho Republican Party candidate page.

Also on the ballot in District 15

Every candidate for the State Senate and both House seats in this district. See the full District 15 page.

More on the November 3 ballot