District 33A: Barbara Ehardt secures the Republican nomination
Seth Ratliff
Election Note: All results remain unofficial until they are formally certified by the State Board of Canvassers.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — In one of the closest, contested races in Idaho Falls, incumbent Rep. Barbara Ehardt has narrowly secured the Republican nomination for Legislative District 33 Seat A by less than 200 votes, according to unofficial results.
With all 51 precincts fully reporting, Ehardt captured 51.59% of the vote to fend off a strong primary challenge from newcomer Connor Cook.
The Lead Up to the Primaries
As voters headed to the polls, the two candidates offered starkly different visions for Idaho’s fiscal policy.
Ehardt pitched a sweeping plan to slash property taxes by offsetting the lost revenue with an increased state sales tax. Cook took a different approach, arguing for budget stabilization with a heavy emphasis on investing in public education and boosting recruitment for state troopers.
The contenders also clashed over social issues, highlighted by a sharp debate over House Bill 752—Idaho’s law criminalizing the use of public restrooms that do not match an individual’s biological sex.
Ehardt — who voted for the bill in the Idaho House — defended the legislation during the campaign, framing it as a move to protect Idaho women and children. She argued that it is the “government’s role to protect the rights of the people,” stating that Idaho must prioritize the safety of women and children over providing accommodations that she believes put them in danger.
Cook framed the bathroom bill as an overreach. He emphasized the importance of the separation of church and state, warning that Idaho is risking its own identity.
“We became the most authoritative state in the country as far as who goes to the bathroom,” Cook said in interviews with Local News 8 leading up to the election. “We are forcing minutes of silence on kids in schools. We were close to forcing religion on kids in schools, and to me, that’s a clear delineation of church and state.”
What Happens Now?
Ehardt, who has served in the Idaho House since her initial appointment by former Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter in late 2017, is now advancing to the November general election, where she will face Democrat Chance Marshall in the race to represent Idaho Falls in Boise. Marshall ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.