Who's In the Race

The are four candidates vying for the Idaho Senate sit this November in the general election. They include: Republican incumbent Jim Risch, independents Todd Achilles and Natalie Fleming along with Libertarian Matt Loesby. ​

Risch has served in the Senate since 2009 and chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; before that he was Ada County prosecuting attorney, Idaho Senate majority leader and president pro tempore, and twice Idaho's lieutenant governor before serving as governor in 2006.

He won the Republican primary with about 67 percent of the vote over Josh Roy. Achilles is a former U.S. Army tank commander who spent 25 years in the technology sector and teaches public policy; Gov. Brad Little appointed him to the Idaho House in February 2024, and he resigned from the Legislature in June 2025 to run for Senate as an independent. David Roth withdrew from the general-election ballot on Aug. 28, 2026. Loesby ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported this week that independent candidate Todd Achilles pledged not to caucus with either party if elected and committed to holding public debates and town halls.

What They Stand For

Jim Risch has said on his Senate website that he advocates for energy independence and developing Idaho's energy resources, works to protect Idaho's public lands and natural resources, supports securing the southern border, works to strengthen small businesses and rein in big government, and supports Idaho agriculture, veterans, and families.

Todd Achilles opposes selling Idaho public lands, declaring "Not One Damn Acre!," and opposes new federal firearm or magazine bans and a federal gun-owner registry, while his campaign website says Congress must reassert its constitutional role in decisions about war and peace and that he would work to end "endless wars"; separately, the Idaho Capital Sun reported that he says Congress should "take back control" of tariff policy from the White House and reject a proposed $500 billion increase to the Department of Defense budget while closing tax loopholes for corporations and high earners.

Natalie Fleming has said on her campaign website that she supports protecting public lands while balancing conservation with responsible use and maintaining access for hunting, fishing, and hiking; calls for immigration reform that is "lean, clean, compassionate" and helps legal immigrants enter the workforce; wants to curb corporate landlords and restore home affordability; supports reforming campaign finance and overturning Citizens United; and says personal data should be treated as private property, with an end to mass surveillance by corporations and government agencies.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported that Matt Loesby argued that high tariffs should be rolled back, said the United States should end foreign wars and deport people who are in the country illegally, and proposed eliminating Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to reduce federal spending and debt.

The Money Behind the Race

Federal Election Commission filings through June 30 show Jim Risch raised about $4.4 million and had about $3.5 million in cash on hand, with no debt reported. FEC filings through June 30 show Todd Achilles raised about $692,000 and had about $194,000 in the bank, also with no debt. All candidates in the Idaho U.S. Senate race have raised $5,373,611 combined, as of Oct. 5.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

The Cook Political Report rated the race Solid Republican as of Sept. 23; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it Solid Republican as of Sept. 22; and Inside Elections rated it Solid Republican as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Risch, a 99.68 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 8.

Republican Mike Crapo won Idaho's Class III U.S. Senate seat in 2022 with about 61 percent of the vote. Republicans won both of Idaho's two U.S. House seats in 2022. In the 2024 presidential race, Donald Trump carried Idaho with about 66 percent of the vote.

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