Congress, hear Idaho’s call. Fix unlimited out-of-state campaign cash | Opinion

With the 2026 Legislature having wrapped up its business for the year, we turn our attention to Idaho’s primary and general election seasons. As we do so, I believe more attention should be given the flow of campaign cash to state legislators seeking re-election or the challengers vying to win their seats.

There was a time not long ago when candidates built their fundraising around $50 checks from constituents and donations from Idaho companies and organizations that understood Idaho politics and priorities. Times have changed here in the Gem State.

As reported by media and the Idaho secretary of state, the 2024 election cycle set new records with more than $17 million spent on campaigns and independent expenditures on legislative races statewide. It would come as no surprise if the 2026 cycle set new records. Much of this eye-popping spending is due to a surge in money coming from beyond Idaho’s borders.

The big cash from out-of-state special interests and their PACs is addictive. Most of these out-of-state PACs are organizations that lack a basic understanding of Idaho values and are more concerned with bending the will of the Legislature to appease their own policy goals and objectives. “Dark money” is an apt description for the murky origin of money funding these PACs.

Each election with its new spending record is eroding faith, trust and confidence that Idaho’s elections are about what is best for our state, people and way of life. The time has come for Idaho to pursue reasonable campaign finance reform, and I applaud the Legislature for taking a meaningful first step toward significant reform with passage of Senate Joint Memorial 109 last month.

In clear terms, SJM 109 urges the U.S. Congress to pass a constitutional amendment or law that gives States the authority to create their own set of rules for election spending, transparency and accountability in campaign finance. The Legislature is also asking Congress to address federal court decisions that have enabled the increase in corporate, dark and foreign money in our elections.

Thanks to Idaho there are now 25 states, including Oklahoma earlier this year and Utah last year, asking for Congress to act. More states will undoubtedly join us. The momentum is here. The need is clear. Let’s do this.

Idaho is in a position to lead on this issue. U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are respected Senate veterans, and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher have earned the rapport and trust required to build consensus for reform in the House.

The process for amending our U.S. Constitution is a heavy lift. But thanks to the Legislature, Idaho is now part of a powerful movement of states seeking rightful transparency and change away from a system that is giving out-of-state dark money PACs a bigger voice in our elections than the average voter from Wallace, Kamiah or Preston.

This is not the Idaho way. It’s time to put Idaho back in charge of its election laws. It’s time for Congress to make it happen.

Chris Rogers is a resident of Boise whose professional career spans family law, finance, technology and entrepreneurship. Pay forward our love for family, friends and our beautiful State of Idaho for generations to come.