Engage · Federal

Federal elections and who can run

Idaho sends four people to Congress and helps elect a President. Here is who can run for each office and how often.

The offices

U.S. House of Representatives. Idaho has two House members, each elected from a congressional district for a two-year term. The 1st District covers the north and west, including the Panhandle and Canyon County. The 2nd covers the east and south, including most of Boise. Both seats are on the ballot in every even-numbered year.
U.S. Senate. Idaho has two senators, elected statewide for six-year terms. Their terms are staggered, so the seats come up in different years.
President and Vice President. Elected every four years. Idaho has four electoral votes, and all four go to the ticket that wins the state's popular vote.

Who can run (set by the U.S. Constitution)

House: at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a resident of the state. Members don't have to live in the district they represent.
Senate: at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state.
President: at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years. No one can be elected President more than twice.

How Idaho runs these elections

House and Senate candidates are nominated in party primaries on the third Tuesday in May. Each party decides who can vote in its primary, and the Republican primary is open only to registered Republicans. The winners face each other in November.
Presidential nominations are run by the parties. In 2024 Idaho held no state-run presidential primary, and both major parties used caucuses. Check with your party or the Secretary of State for how 2028 will work.
Candidates for Congress file with the Idaho Secretary of State during the late-winter filing period. In 2026 the fee was $500 for the Senate and $300 for the House, or petition signatures instead. They report campaign money to the Federal Election Commission, not the state.

How to follow your members

Find them with Who represents you.
Track their votes and bills on Congress.gov.
See who funds their campaigns at the Federal Election Commission's website, fec.gov.
Use their Idaho offices. Each member has staff in several Idaho cities who help with federal agencies. See working with federal agencies.

Sources

Last reviewed November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the linked sources before you rely on a deadline.