Tony Wisniewski

Tony Wisniewski is a Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 5 Seat B, which covers portions of Kootenai County in North Idaho. Wisniewski has served four terms, first representing District 3B (2018-2022) and then District 5B after redistricting in 2022. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, which appears uncontested. The general election is November 3, 2026 with Democrat Lee Wallace.

Background

Wisniewski, 75, was born April 19, 1951 in Los Angeles, California, and is a first-generation American of Polish descent. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Utah State University in 1973. He has lived in the Post Falls area since 1996 (approximately 30 years), per his official Idaho Legislature profile. He moved to Idaho from Colorado after his employer closed a plant and relocated its manufacturing to Malaysia, eliminating approximately 1,200 jobs. His professional career was as a manufacturing engineer (retired 2017), with positions at Digital Equipment Corporation (1988-1996), Esterline Advanced Input Systems (1996-2000), Telect (2000-2001), and Hotstart Incorporated (2001-2017). He previously chaired the Spokane chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and served as an industry representative on a Career and Technical Education advisory group. He is married to Melody (more than 45 years), has five grown children and multiple grandchildren, and is Catholic.

Political Career

Wisniewski served as Kootenai County Republican Central Committee vice chairman through approximately 2017 before running for office. He was first elected to the Idaho House in 2018 in District 3B with 70.8 percent of the vote against Democrat Dan Hanks, per Ballotpedia. He has typically run unopposed in recent Republican primaries and defeated Democrat Teresa Borrenpohl in both the 2022 and 2024 District 5B general elections; in 2024 he received 21,154 votes to Borrenpohl's 5,650. He serves as Vice Chair of the House Commerce & Human Resources Committee and on the House Education Committee and the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

Policy Positions

In 2025 Wisniewski sponsored a bill requiring cursive-writing proficiency in Idaho schools, which passed the Legislature. He also co-sponsored a 2025 bill written by the Idaho Family Policy Center barring local governments from passing antidiscrimination ordinances that expand protections beyond state law. In 2026 he sponsored House Joint Memorial 17, which calls on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges and "restore the natural definition of marriage, a union of one man and one woman." Per Idaho Capital Sun coverage he stated in committee, "The government did not create families or marriage, but they have to recognize that the family is the fundamental building block of society." During February 2026 debate on HB 623 (mandating a daily moment of silence in schools), the Idaho Statesman editorial board reported he said, "If we leave it up to the teacher, and if a teacher is not in agreement with this principle, what could happen? I have often said that if you can't think like a criminal, you don't belong in the Legislature." The editorial board criticized the comment as implying distrust of teachers. His record reflects support for limited government, repeal of Common Core / Idaho Core Standards, expanded vocational education, eliminating "unnecessary regulations," Second Amendment protection, and removing "the government middleman between the consumer and the doctor" in healthcare. He has expressed disagreement with the Blaine Amendment of the Idaho Constitution, which prohibits public aid to religious schools.

Political Alignment

The Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index has scored Wisniewski consistently among the highest in the House — recent cycles in the 93.5 to 94.5 percent range on Freedom (A or A-) with high Spending Index marks. IFF reports group him among the top "Freedom in the House" Republicans alongside Heather Scott, Vito Barbieri, Cornel Rasor, Dale Hawkins, Elaine Price, and Ron Mendive. He attended a 2026 KCRCC Lincoln Day fundraiser featuring former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz as speaker, citing "due process" in his support for the event.

Campaign and Endorsements

Wisniewski's 2026 Republican primary appears uncontested. Independent expenditure filings on the Idaho Sunshine portal show 2026 backing from the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee totaling approximately $1,488. Idaho EdNews reports the KCRCC filed approximately $6,000 in total 2026 IE supporting a slate of approximately 25 conservative candidates. He would face Democrat Lee Wallace in the November 3, 2026 general election.