2026 local election results

While Republicans lost big nationally, Idaho — including Dist. 1 — resisted the ‘blue wave’

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

The 2026 midterm election delivered what observers are already calling historic wins for Democrats across the country — flipping enough seats to secure majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate and turning stalwart Republican states like Texas blue. That trend didn’t hold in Idaho, however, with incumbent Republicans holding onto seats from the governor’s office to Congress, though Democrats were able to pick up six seats in the Legislature.

In Idaho’s Legislative District 1, which includes Bonner and parts of Boundary counties, Republicans won strong majorities with a high turnout of 69.9%.

“The results were exactly what I was expecting — the national [results] did not surprise me at all,” Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale told the Reader.

Locally, he added that turnout was likely fueled by Proposition 1 and House Joint Resolution 4 — the first being the citizens’ initiative to roll back Idaho’s strict abortion laws and the second a constitutional amendment giving the Legislature exclusive authority to legalize marijuana and other narcotics — both of which failed.

As evidence for the upswing in participation, Rosedale said the county had “a huge amount of new voter registrations.” So much so, that new registration materials had to be rushed to eight precincts as they came close to running out.

Among the most closely watched contested local races pitted Republican Scott Herndon against Independent Steve Johnson, with the former garnering 14,838 votes (for 57.27%) and the latter taking 11,069 votes (with 42.73%).

Herndon had a stronger percentage win in Boundary County, with 65.85% of the vote (bringing in 3,645 votes), compared to 34.15% for Johnson (or 1,890 votes). The race was somewhat closer in Bonner County, where Herndon took in 11,193 votes (54.94%) to Johnson’s 9,179 votes (45.06%).

Republican Jane Sauter prevailed over Democrat Karen Matthee for the Dist. 1A House seat, pulling a total of 17,307 votes (67.21%) to 8,445 (32.79%). Incumbent Republican Rep. Cornel Rasor likewise succeeded in his race against Independent Kathryn Larson for Dist. 1B House, with 16,545 votes (63.95%) to 9,327 for Larson (36.05%).

“Last night you returned me to the Idaho Senate, and you sent Jane Sauter and Cornel Rasor back to the Idaho House alongside me. I couldn’t ask for two better people to serve this district with. Thank you District 1,” Herndon posted on his Scott Herndon for Idaho Facebook page Nov. 4, later adding, “To everyone who showed up and voted, thank you. I don’t take it for granted, and I’m ready to get back to work for you.”

The Jane Sauter for Idaho Facebook page also congratulated all three of the successful candidates, thanking them for their “dedication, hard work and willingness to serve the people of North Idaho.”

Rasor, on his Facebook page, thanked voters in Bonner and Boundary counties, adding, “I will do my best to represent you and Idaho and work hard to make our communities the best they can be.”

Johnson thanked supporters and volunteers; and, while congratulating Herndon, added, “With over 30,000 ballots cast in District 1, it’s important to remember that a majority of those ballots did not select him. I sincerely hope he will respect the multitude of voices that we have in North Idaho and realize that he has a responsibility to represent all of us. Individual freedom and responsibility transcend politics and ideology.”

In an email to the Reader on Nov. 4, Matthee wrote: “We did better than the first go-round, and I’m hoping for a younger, energetic candidate to come up behind me,” alluding to her unsuccessful Dist. 1A House bid in the 2024 election. “No race should go uncontested. Getting our message out there matters.”

“We just elected the people who have signed our power over to outside interests,” Larson wrote in an email. “My opponent and his colleagues spent most of their money with out-of-state political consultants. … We elected a slate of legislators who’ve pledged their loyalty to the money. They don’t answer to us.”

She added that while this will be her last run for office, Larson plans to find another way to help “keep North Idaho communities strong, affordable and thriving,” and that it was “a joy working with so many great people.”

Republican Steve Smith prevailed in his bid for Dist. 1 Bonner County commissioner, bringing in 15,419 votes (67.16%) to Independent Fred Arn’s 7,540 votes (32.84%). 

The remainder of county positions on the ballot were uncontested, including Jeff Roberts for Dist. 2 BOCC, Roger Rudd for clerk, Clorissa Koster for treasurer, Cory Gabel for assessor and Robert Beers for coroner — all Republicans.

“It was a hard night for Republicans across the country. The party lost ground almost everywhere. But North Idaho held, and Idaho held. We kept District 1 in strong conservative hands, and together we defeated Proposition 1,” Herndon stated. 

Prop. 1 needed 50% plus one vote to pass, but 55.94% of voters opposed it at the polls. In Bonner County, 61.5% voted against Prop. 1 (amounting to 14,691 votes) to 9,196 in favor (38.5%).

Voters also considered other local ballot measures, with the Spirit Lake Fire Protection District’s permanent override levy going down to defeat with 50.41% of the vote — short of the 66.6% needed to pass — along with the Coolin Sewer District’s request to issue up to $8 million in revenue bonds for work on its wastewater treatment plant. That measure failed with 53.19% against.

The Westside Fire Protection District succeeded in its request for a temporary, two-year levy of $380,000 per year, securing 66.7% of the vote. The city of Dover was also successful in getting voters’ approval for a 12% occupancy tax on short-term lodgings, with 70.73% in favor.

The city of Sandpoint, however, failed to get the necessary 60% support needed to pass a 1% non-property local option tax with funds directed toward street and pathway infrastructure. A total of 1,874 voters (or 52.13%) approved of the tax, while 47.87% (or 1,721) were against it.

“While I am disappointed that Sandpoint’s proposed 1% local option tax did not achieve the required 60% approval, I love the process where voters determine their priorities and how they want to approach the funding of critical infrastructure,” Mayor Jeremy Grimm told the Reader.

Looking back on what will be his final election as county clerk, Rosedale offered some words of advice: “There is such a temptation to tear our community apart, with the left vs. right, Republican vs. Democrat stuff … don’t let it happen. We’re still the same community the day after the election.”

Election results are preliminary until canvassed, which is scheduled to take place Thursday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. in the third floor Bonner County commissioners meeting room at the county administration building (1500 U.S. 2, in Sandpoint). The Idaho State Board of Canvassers will then certify the results at its Tuesday, Nov. 24 meeting. The public is invited to attend. For more state and local election results, visit voteidaho.gov/election-results.