Show Us the Money

Idaho's primary campaign finance 2026 shows a stark gap between the state's two major parties. Republican candidates are dramatically outpacing Democrats in the race for donations, with GOP hopefuls raising more than five times the funds of their Democratic counterparts heading into the election cycle.

Democrat Brad Moore competed in a crowded primary field. The candidate landscape in Idaho for 2026 reflects a Republican-dominated state in terms of fundraising muscle and candidate depth.

Candidate Rankings

The six Republican primary candidates in the state raised a combined $1,711,259.68 in the 2026 cycle, while five Democratic candidates brought in just $298,615.49. Two Independent candidates raised $490,371.58, and one candidate with unknown party affiliation reported $2,864,280.24 in receipts. One Constitution Party candidate reported zero dollars raised.

The fundraising gap illustrates the challenge facing Democratic candidates in a reliably conservative state. Republicans are fielding more candidates and raising substantially more money per candidate on average.

Incumbents vs. Challengers

Idaho's 2026 primary featured a mix of incumbent and non-incumbent candidates competing across the state. The detailed breakdown shows how different candidates are positioning themselves financially as the election cycle progresses.

Incumbent James E. Risch, the top fundraiser in Idaho's 2026 cycle and Republican candidate, raised $2,864,280.24 in total receipts and held $3,729,779.90 in ending cash as of April 29, 2026. Michael Simpson raised $924,724.73 with $422,749.56 in cash on hand. Russell Fulcher brought in $577,744.33 with $259,074.78 remaining. Todd Baker Achilles raised $448,963.88 with $105,907.03 in ending cash. Denny Lave reported $164,600.00 in receipts with $54,677.30 in cash on hand.

Brad Moore was not an incumbent at the time of the 2026 race, placing him among the challengers competing in Idaho's congressional elections. Moore received 14,868 votes in the 2026 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

Total PAC fundraising across Idaho for the 2026 cycle reached $22,437,320.36, showing the substantial role of organizational money in the state's political landscape.

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Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), data current as of June 26, 2026.

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