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

Todd Achilles

Todd Achilles

U.S. Senate

Todd Achilles, independent candidate for U.S. Senator from Idaho

Todd Achilles, an independent and a former Army tank commander and technology executive, is a candidate for U.S. Senator from Idaho in the November 3, 2026 general election. He filed on February 26, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State lists the filing as approved. His opponents are Republican incumbent Jim Risch, independent Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby.

Background

The Idaho Legislature's biography of Achilles says: "Raised on family farm; B.A. in economics from Claremont McKenna College; graduate degrees in business, international studies, and public policy; served in the U.S. Army as tank commander and armor officer; 25 years in the tech sector at T-Mobile, Hewlett-Packard, and various start-ups; university public policy instructor focused on technology, innovation, and antimonopoly; union member; Frank Church Institute board member."

The Spokesman-Review reported in August 2025 that he joined the Army through an ROTC program and served as a tank commander from 1992 to 1995, "he said." The American Federation of Government Employees says he was twice deployed to the Persian Gulf. The Idaho Capital Sun reported in August 2026 that he is 58.

From Republican registration to the Idaho House

The Spokesman-Review reported that he "was a registered Republican, he said, until he changed his party affiliation to qualify to be appointed in February 2024 by Gov. Brad Little to a House seat vacated by a Democrat."

The Idaho Capital Sun reported on February 16, 2024 that Little appointed Achilles to fill the vacant District 16 Seat B, which includes portions of Boise and Garden City, after Rep. Colin Nash of Boise resigned. It described Achilles as "a former Army tank commander and business executive."

According to the Idaho Secretary of State's election database, Achilles won the May 21, 2024 Democratic primary for the seat with 1,337 of 2,875 votes in a four-candidate field. Nikson Mathews received 813 votes, Jon Chu 636 and Wayne Richey 89. He won the November 5, 2024 general election with 13,978 votes to Republican Jackie Davidson's 9,401.

The Legislature's biography lists him in his second term as Minority Caucus Chair, with assignments to the Agricultural Affairs, Commerce and Human Resources, State Affairs, and Ways and Means committees.

Becoming an independent

The Idaho Capital Sun reported that Achilles stepped down from the Legislature on Sunday, June 29, 2025, and became an "unaffiliated voter," and that he announced his Senate campaign on July 1, 2025. He told the Sun: "It begins with the fact that the two-party system is just fundamentally broken right now in the United States." He said: "People are tired of a system that is more and more divisive."

Idaho Education News reported that he said of the decision: "We just decided, you know, it's now or never." A campaign news release quoted by the outlet said: "I'm running because we need leaders who will protect public lands, pay down the debt, and stand up to the corporate monopolies that have rigged our economy."

Achilles told the Capital Sun in August 2026: "I'm speaking to roomfuls of Republicans who are just tired of the Idaho GOP, and they're ready for something new." He also said: "There's a lot of angry Republicans in Idaho right now."

Positions

His campaign policy page says he will "fight for a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court." It says he will "work to end the practice of Congressmembers buying and selling individual stocks" and supports "establishing a mandatory retirement at age of 72 for members of Congress."

On public lands, the page uses the phrase "Not One Damn Acre" to oppose selling Idaho's public lands. On firearms it says: "I will vote against new federal bans on firearms or magazines, a federal registry of gun owners, or any proposal that lacks Fifth Amendment protections and due process." On Idaho's reproductive freedom ballot initiative, it says he will align his Senate service with the outcome of the vote.

The NRA Political Victory Fund's Idaho page lists a grade of F for Achilles and A+ for Risch in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Votes in the Idaho House

The Idaho Legislature's bill pages show that he voted for House Bill 40 in 2025, which lowered the income tax rate and exempted certain military benefits from income taxation (63-7). He voted against House Bill 93, the Idaho parental choice tax credit, which passed 42-28 on February 7, 2025, and against House Bill 83, the Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act, which passed 61-9 on February 10, 2025. He voted against House Bill 32, which prohibits mask mandates and passed 52-16 on January 29, 2025.

Endorsements and supporters

The Forward Party announced on June 18, 2026 that it endorsed four independent U.S. Senate candidates, including Achilles. Its announcement says he "is running to give Idahoans a senator focused on accountability, affordability, honest government, and term limits."

The American Federation of Government Employees announced its endorsement on September 1, 2026. Its release says he "earned a reputation as one of the state's most bipartisan lawmakers." AFGE District 11 National Vice President Tim Snyder said: "Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are two of AFGE's largest bargaining units, and Todd's military background will bring a veterans' voice to Capitol Hill to advocate for AFGE members."

Greg Casey, a Republican who was chief of staff to Sen. Larry Craig and the 34th U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, wrote in a July 21, 2026 Idaho Statesman guest opinion headlined "I spent my career in Republican politics. I'm backing Achilles."

Polling

Published polls of the race came from different sponsors and reached different results. A Public Policy Polling memo dated March 20, 2026, which does not name a sponsor, reported a poll of 639 registered voters on March 16 and 17 with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. It said Achilles trailed Risch 48 to 34 at the start and led 41 to 38 after respondents heard biographical information about him and negative messaging about Risch.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported that the Achilles campaign released a poll of 774 registered voters on June 4, which the Bullfinch Group fielded from May 29 to June 1, 2026. The Sun reported that Risch led in the first results with 41% and that 51% chose Achilles in a head-to-head question that followed messaging about Risch and Achilles.

The Sun reported that the Risch campaign released a poll of 500 likely general election voters on June 11 that asked about all of the candidates with no additional information. It showed Risch at 55%, David Roth at 15% and Achilles at 7%. Roth has since withdrawn.

Advanced Targeting Research reported on September 17, 2026 a survey of 700 registered Idaho voters from September 13 to 16 with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. It showed Achilles at 50.1% and Risch at 38.5% in a two-candidate question. The memo says the survey "was not commissioned by any candidate in this race."

What critics say

Risch told the Idaho Capital Sun in August 2026 that Achilles's votes in the Legislature were "exactly the opposite" of how the senator would have voted. He cited votes against House Bills 93, 32 and 83. Risch said the race does not feel different, adding: "I know people are getting excited all of a sudden because I was running against two Democrats, and now I'm running against one Democrat." The Sun reported that he was referring to Achilles's time as a Democratic legislator. Achilles told the Sun: "I'm the better conservative candidate in this race."

The Spokesman-Review quoted Boise State political scientist Charles Hunt on the challenge facing an independent candidate: "For someone like him to win, not only do you need to pull over some Republicans; not only do you need to win all of these independents, but you've got to win Democrats, too."

Campaign finance

The Federal Election Commission shows that Todd Achilles for Idaho reported receipts of $692,245.06 and disbursements of $506,311.48 for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It reported $194,226.50 in cash on hand and no debts. The receipts include $585,745.06 from individuals, $10,000.00 from political committees, $10,500.00 from the candidate and $86,000.00 listed as offsets to operating expenditures.

The committee's itemized individual contributions total $470,024.42, of which 51.4% came from Idaho addresses. The largest itemized individual totals include John Andrews of Seattle ($14,000) and, at $7,000 each, AJ and Susie Balukoff of Boise, Bob and Janet Keegan of Twin Falls, and Jeff Green and Jim Ward of Santa Monica, California. The political committee contributions were $5,000 from the IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund and $5,000 from the Blue Wave Project.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated October 2, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Todd Achilles running for?
He is an independent candidate for U.S. Senator from Idaho in the November 3, 2026 general election. His opponents are Republican Jim Risch, independent Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby.
What is Todd Achilles's background?
The Idaho Legislature's biography says he served in the Army as a tank commander and armor officer, worked 25 years in the tech sector at T-Mobile and Hewlett-Packard, and teaches public policy.
Was Todd Achilles a Republican?
The Spokesman-Review reported that he was a registered Republican until he changed his party affiliation to qualify for an appointment to a House seat vacated by a Democrat in February 2024.
How did Todd Achilles get into the Idaho House?
Gov. Brad Little appointed him to House District 16 Seat B on February 16, 2024. He then won the 2024 Democratic primary and the November 2024 general election, 13,978 votes to 9,401.
Why did Todd Achilles run as an independent?
He told the Idaho Capital Sun in July 2025 that the two-party system is fundamentally broken. He stepped down from the Legislature on June 29, 2025 and became an unaffiliated voter.
Who has endorsed Todd Achilles?
The Forward Party announced its endorsement on June 18, 2026, and the American Federation of Government Employees announced its endorsement on September 1, 2026. Greg Casey, a Republican, backed him in an Idaho Statesman guest opinion.
What do polls say about Todd Achilles and Jim Risch?
Polls from different sponsors differ widely. Risch led 55% to 7% in a June poll released by his campaign, while Advanced Targeting Research reported Achilles at 50.1% to Risch's 38.5% in September.
How much money has Todd Achilles raised?
The Federal Election Commission shows $692,245.06 in receipts and $506,311.48 in disbursements from July 2025 through June 30, 2026, with $194,226.50 in cash on hand.