Treg A. Bernt

Treg Bernt: Idaho Republican Incumbent Senator for District 21

Treg Bernt is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate representing District 21, which covers the Meridian area of Ada County. Bernt, who lives in Meridian, was first elected to the Senate in 2022 and is currently serving his second term. He is seeking re-election in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary.

2024 Primary Election Results
Bernt 3,236 votes / Bourn 2,220 votes

2024 General Election Results
Bernt 18,233 votes / Long 6,321 votes

Background

Treg Bernt was born on March 18, 1976, in Pocatello, Idaho, where he was raised. He is a fourth-generation Idahoan and a graduate of Pocatello High School. Bernt attended Idaho State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication. He relocated from Pocatello to Meridian in 2003. His professional career began in sales, where he worked as a territory manager for Shaw Industries, a national flooring manufacturer. In 2015, he founded his own flooring business in the Treasure Valley, which operates alongside a family flooring business in Pocatello.

Bernt’s public service record in Meridian predates his Senate career by more than a decade. He was first elected to the Meridian City Council in 2017, defeating three opponents with 57.6 percent of the vote, and served as president of the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission. He also served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and as a board member of the Meridian Development Corporation, the city’s urban renewal district. Bernt was re-elected to the city council in 2021, narrowly defeating his opponent 51 to 49 percent, before resigning upon his election to the Idaho Senate in 2022.

Political Career

Bernt was elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022, defeating Republican primary opponent Thad Butterworth with 61.27 percent before winning the general election against Constitution Party candidate Monica McKinley with 83.13 percent. He was re-elected in 2024, winning the Republican primary against Idaho Freedom Foundation-backed challenger Brenda Bourn with 59.3 percent and the general election against Libertarian Mike Long, 18,233 votes to 6,321.

Bernt currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee and sits on the Commerce and Human Resources Committee and the Local Government and Taxation Committee.

In the 2025 session, Bernt sponsored Senate Bill 1032, which required all Idaho public school districts to adopt distraction-free policies restricting student use of cell phones and electronic devices, with a compliance deadline of December 31, 2025. The bill passed the Senate unanimously. In prior sessions, Bernt sponsored legislation banning the use of diversity statements in higher education admissions, a practice that had already been prohibited in the hiring context at Idaho colleges and universities, as he highlighted during his 2024 re-election campaign. He has also cited school facility funding legislation, HB 521, as a priority accomplishment.

Policy Positions

Bernt’s documented legislative priorities include transportation infrastructure, public education funding, and public safety. On education, he has called for expanding funding tools beyond bonds and levies for school construction and operations, arguing that the state should reinvest growth-generated revenue back into growing communities. He has also emphasized Career Technical Education at the middle and high school level and expressed support for community colleges. On school infrastructure, Bernt has identified construction of the Linder Road overpass and Highway 16 as critical transportation priorities for District 21.

On public safety, Bernt identified adding mandatory minimum penalties for vehicular manslaughter involving a prior DUI conviction as a legislative goal for his second term. He has also called for regular audits of large tax exemptions as part of property tax and fiscal accountability efforts.

On social issues, Bernt stated during the 2023 Senate floor debate on HB 71, which banned gender-affirming care for minors, that he has a family member who has transitioned and that he “will always favor parental rights. And if I’m going to err, I will always err on the side of freedom.” He voted against that bill. He has also voted against at least one library materials bill: in 2024, Bernt was one of four Republicans who joined all seven Senate Democrats in opposing HB 710, a book restriction bill, with critics among conservative hardliners arguing it did not go far enough in restricting access to what they characterized as harmful materials. On immigration, Bernt has supported a congressional resolution calling for border reform and has described illegal immigration as a significant concern, while also voting in favor of advancing a 2024 bill related to Medicaid benefits.

On “platform compliance,” Bernt told the Idaho Press that he has not been censured by his party committee and does not believe in “obedience scores,” stating: “I represent District 21 in the Idaho state Senate, and that’s always been my focus and it always will be.”

Political Alignment

Treg Bernt appears aligned with the traditional conservative Republican wing of Idaho politics, consistent with the governing conservatism of the Little administration, rather than the activist or Freedom Caucus-aligned right. The most direct evidence is his 2026 Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index score of 42.3 percent, an F grade, which places him well below the threshold associated with IFF-aligned voting and in the range occupied primarily by establishment Republicans and Democrats. His voting record includes opposition to HB 71, a transgender health care ban for minors; opposition to a 2024 book restriction bill backed by conservative hardliners; and a vote to advance Medicaid-related legislation. The IFF’s advocacy arm directly opposed Bernt in the 2024 primary, endorsing his challenger and citing his voting record as insufficiently conservative. Bernt’s public rejection of “obedience scores” and party platform compliance mechanisms further distinguishes him from candidates who align with the activist wing of Idaho’s Republican Party. No documented affiliations with the Idaho Freedom Caucus, Citizens Alliance of Idaho, or comparable organizations were identified in available research.

Campaign and Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify formal endorsements for Bernt in either the 2024 primary or general election cycles. His 2022 campaign included support from former Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd and former Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, both figures associated with the Treasure Valley Republican establishment. Bernt’s campaign themes have centered on property tax reform, transportation infrastructure, education funding, and public safety. As of April 2026, no endorsements for his 2026 re-election bid have been publicly reported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Treg Bernt? Treg Bernt is a Republican Idaho state senator from Meridian, Idaho, currently serving his second term representing District 21 in the Idaho Senate.

What district does Treg Bernt represent? Bernt represents Senate District 21, which covers portions of Meridian in Ada County.

Is Treg Bernt an incumbent or challenger? Bernt is an incumbent. He was first elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022 and is seeking a third consecutive term in the May 2026 Republican primary.

What committees does Treg Bernt serve on? Bernt serves as Vice Chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee and is also a member of the Commerce and Human Resources Committee and the Local Government and Taxation Committee.

What has Treg Bernt accomplished in the Idaho Legislature? Among Bernt’s documented legislative accomplishments are Senate Bill 1032, which mandated cell phone-free policies in Idaho public schools, and earlier legislation banning the use of diversity statements in higher education admissions processes. He has also identified school facility funding and transportation infrastructure investment as priorities during his service.

How has Treg Bernt scored on the Idaho Freedom Foundation index? Bernt received an F grade with a 42.3 percent Freedom Index score in the 2026 index cycle, placing him in the lower tier of Republican senators by IFF standards. The IFF’s advocacy arm opposed his re-election in 2024.

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