AP calls Idaho GOP primary races for Sen. Jim Risch, Reps. Fulcher and Simpson
Idaho’s three longtime congressional incumbents, all Republicans backed by President Donald Trump, easily secured their party’s nominations in Tuesday’s primary election, according to The Associated Press, and each now heads into the general election as front-runners in the Republican-dominated state.
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch coasted to the GOP nomination in a statewide primary on his path to seeking a fourth term in the office. Risch, 83, a former Idaho governor, defeated three GOP opponents in the race to earn the nod: Joe Evans, 57, of Boise; Josh Roy, 44, of Lewiston; and Denny LaVé, 49, of Worley.
With 42% of votes counted, Risch received 63.8% of the vote. Evans was in second with 16.4%, followed by Roy at 15.5% and LaVé with 4.3%. The AP called the race at 9:34 p.m. Mountain time, which moved Risch on to face four rivals in November’s general election.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the greatest state in the nation,” Risch said in a statement. “The Gem State has long been a beacon of common sense, freedom, and opportunity. I am committed to ensuring that continues and working with all Idahoans to build an even stronger future for our children, our families, and our state.”
David Roth, 45, of Idaho Falls, won the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday for the right to take on Risch, defeating Nick Bonds, 33, of Post Falls, and Brad Moore, 69, of Boise. Roth had 64.2% of votes, compared to Moore with 29.2% and Bonds at 6.6%, based on early returns.
Independents Todd Achilles, a former Democratic state representative, and Natalie Fleming join Roth and Risch on the November ballot for U.S. Senate, as does Libertarian candidate Matt Loesby who ran against Fulcher in 2024.
Fulcher also cruised to victory in the Republican primary for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, beating challengers Andy Briner, 33, of Parma, and Joseph Morrison, 35, of Boise, according to the AP at 9:55 p.m. With 36% of votes counted, Fulcher was ahead with 76.8%, with Briner well behind at 12.7% and Morrison earning 10.5% of votes.
Fulcher, 64, of Meridian, seeks a fifth term in office for the seat that serves two-year terms and represents western and North Idaho, plus the portion of Ada County. He’ll again face a rematch with Democratic candidate Kaylee Peterson, 36, of Eagle, who captured the nomination with 87.8% of early results over Kenneth Brungardt, 71, of Meridian, who earned 12.2%.
Peterson previously won the Democratic nomination in the race in 2022 and 2024, and aims to unseat Fulcher on the third go-around.
“What I know this state and this country are sick and tired of are wealthy old men who think they know what’s best for us without doing … any work or spending any time getting to know Idahoans,” Peterson told attendees at an election night event in Garden City. “Russ Fulcher hasn’t done a single public event in this state unless I forced him to.”
Constitution Party candidate Brendan Gomez, who ran for the same congressional seat in 2024, and independent Sarah Zabel also advance to the November general election against Fulcher because they ran uncontested in the primaries.
In Idaho’s other congressional race, the 2nd District, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson won the Republican nomination in his push for a 15th term in the office. Simpson, 75, of Idaho Falls, defeated GOP opponents Brian Keene, 42, of Nampa, and Perry Shumway, 61, of Rexburg. The AP called the race for Simpson at 10:12 p.m.
With 48% of votes, counted, Simpson received 61.6%. Keene earned 22%, and Shumway was third with 16.5% of votes.
Simpson, the longtime Republican incumbent, moves on to the general election in November for the seat that serves two-year terms and represents East Idaho and part of Boise. He’ll next face five challengers, punctuated by candidate Ellie Gilbreath, 63, of Ketchum, who took the Democratic nod unopposed Tuesday.
Independent candidates Emre Houser, 49, of Boise, and Tripp Charles Hutchinson, 27, of Ketchum, as well as candidate Idaho Law-Carta Sierra for the Constitution Party and Libertarian Will Johanson also face off against Simpson on November’s ballot.
Each of Risch, Fulcher and Simpson remained in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday instead of attending election night parties in Idaho while Congress this week remained in session.
Idaho Statesman intern Emily Carmela Nelson contributed.
This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 9:54 PM.
