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

Trish Carter-Goodheart

Trish Carter-Goodheart

Idaho House of Representatives, District 6 Seat A

Campaign website:Campaign Website
Facebook:Campaign Facebook Page
City:Lapwai

Trish Carter-Goodheart, Democratic nominee for Idaho House District 6, Seat A

Trish Carter-Goodheart, a Democrat from Lapwai, is on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot for Idaho House District 6, Seat A. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary with 1,382 votes (52.45%), a certified result from the Idaho Secretary of State, in a three-way contest against Bryce Blankenship (1,169 votes, 44.36%) and Ryan Wayne Augusta (84 votes, 3.19%). She faces Republican Colton Bennett in November. This is her third consecutive run for the seat.

Background

Carter-Goodheart is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe and was born and raised in Lapwai, where she is raising two children with her husband. Her campaign website describes her work as a community fundraiser and grant writer, and the Nez Perce County Democratic Party describes her as a community advocate, nonprofit grant writer, and small business owner.

Outside her campaign, she has documented service with the National Indian Child Welfare Association, a national nonprofit focused on tribal child welfare policy. Her service on the NICWA board began in 2008, when she joined as a youth board member. During her board service she worked on the organization's public policy committee, which addresses legislative and policy decisions as well as fundraising and program development.

On her campaign site, she describes her motivation for running in her own words: "Leaders with empathy do more than sympathize with the people around them, they use their understanding to improve community at its core."

The 2026 race

District 6's House Seat A is open this year. Incumbent Rep. Lori McCann, a Republican, chose to run for the district's Senate seat rather than seek re-election to the House, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. McCann lost that Senate primary and does not appear on the November ballot. The District 6 Senate race pits Republican Dan Foreman against Democrat Robin Weldy.

The certified primary results give Carter-Goodheart a margin of 213 votes over Blankenship for the Democratic nomination.

In 2022 she lost to McCann 59.5% to 40.5% in the general election, and in 2024 she lost the rematch 64.8% to 35.2%, with write-in candidate Ryan Wayne Augusta also on that ballot.

Where she stands

Carter-Goodheart's stated 2026 priorities, in her own campaign words, are:

  • Early childhood education, "ensuring every child has a solid foundation, no matter their zip code"
  • Rural healthcare access, with an emphasis on keeping providers in small towns so families "should not have to travel hours for care"
  • Protecting forests and public lands, "not just as resources, but as part of who we are"
  • Sustainable agriculture, so "our family farms can thrive for generations to come"
  • Higher pay for working families, "wages you can live on"

She frames these priorities as connected, writing on her site that "when we invest in our communities, protect what sustains us, and support the people doing the work, we build a future where families can stay, grow, and thrive."

"I refuse to live in fear, and I know our community deserves leadership that shows up, listens, and fights for what matters," she writes on her site. She describes her platform as rooted in lived experience, citing the pressures rural families face in making ends meet, finding reliable healthcare, and building a future close to home.

Sources

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated September 25, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

What office is Trish Carter-Goodheart running for?
Idaho House District 6, Seat A, a two-year term representing part of North Idaho including the Lewiston area. She is the Democratic nominee on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot, running against Republican Colton Bennett.
Did Carter-Goodheart win her primary?
Yes. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary with 1,382 votes (52.45%), finishing ahead of Bryce Blankenship (1,169 votes, 44.36%) and Ryan Wayne Augusta (84 votes, 3.19%) in a contested three-way race certified by the Idaho Secretary of State.
Has she run for this seat before?
Yes. This is her third consecutive run for House District 6, Seat A. She lost to Republican Lori McCann in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections.
Why is the seat open in 2026?
Incumbent Rep. Lori McCann chose to run for the district's Senate seat instead of seeking House re-election, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. She lost that Senate primary and is not on the November ballot, leaving House Seat A without an incumbent.
Who is her opponent in November?
Colton Bennett, the Republican nominee. The two face each other on November 3, 2026 for the open seat.
What is her professional background?
She works as a community fundraiser and grant writer and is described by the Nez Perce County Democratic Party as a community advocate, nonprofit grant writer, and small business owner. She is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe, born and raised in Lapwai.
What are her top campaign issues?
Her stated 2026 priorities, in her own words, are early childhood education, rural healthcare access, protecting forests and public lands, sustainable agriculture, and higher wages.

Also on the ballot in District 6

Every candidate for the State Senate and both House seats in this district. See the full District 6 page.

More on the November 3 ballot