Mayor Blad ousted as candidates Greg Cates & Mark Dahlquist head to runoff election
Seth Ratliff
UPDATED: NOV 5th, 2:20 PM
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Pocatello is headed for a high-stakes mayoral runoff on December 2, 2025, guaranteeing that the city will have a new leader in 2026. The final tally from Bannock County confirmed that incumbent Mayor Brian Blad failed to secure a majority, or even a spot in the top two, effectively ending his current term.
Mark Dahlquist led the field, cruising to a first-place finish with 5,135 votes, representing a strong 40.21% of the total. He will face Greg Cates, who secured the second spot with 3,938 votes (30.83%).
Mayor Blad Concedes, Congratulates Runoff Candidates
Mayor Blad finished a close third, earning approximately 1,830 votes, falling short of the runoff. In a gracious concession shared on Facebook, the outgoing mayor offered his best wishes to the candidates moving forward.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve Pocatello. I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Mark Dahlquist and Greg Cates as they move forward in the mayoral runoff. Running for office is no small task, and I know firsthand the time, energy, and heart it takes to campaign for the city you love. I wish them both the very best as they continue to share their visions for Pocatello’s future.”
He added, “To everyone who supported me… thank you from the bottom of my heart… Serving as your mayor has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Pocatello will always be home… No matter who leads next, I have faith in this community’s strength, resilience, and kindness.”
City Council Race
In the race for the Pocatello City Council, incumbent Dakota Bates will retain his seat. Meanwhile, Stacy Satterfield and Ann Swanson took a simple majority, securing city council seats 5 and 6, respectively.