Who is running for State Senator, District 1 in 2026?

Custom home builder; former Idaho state senator (District 1, 2023 to 2024)

Scott Herndon is a custom home builder in Sandpoint and the Republican nominee for Idaho Senate District 1¹⁴. He served in the Idaho Senate in 2023 and 2024, lost his seat to Jim Woodward in the May 2024 primary, and won the 2026 primary rematch⁶. He has a finance degree from Arizona State University and has lived in Bonner County since 2004⁴.

Where they stand 9 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorshigh

  Said · high confidence

  • His record page says children should not make decisions about puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for gender dysphoria, and that he supported H 71. (2024) source
  • Voted yes on H 71 (ban on puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery for minors); the Senate passed it 22 to 12. (2023-03-27) source
• ImmigrationDeport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possiblemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says illegal immigrants need to go, while people who follow immigration law are welcome. (2026) source
  • His record page says that people here illegally should be deported and can then apply to return through legal means. (2024) source
  • In his April 2026 questionnaire he says he fought against illegal immigration and killed an amnesty resolution for illegal aliens. (2026-04) source
  • Voted yes on S 1030 (enforcement of federal immigration law, with Attorney General suits against non-complying governments); the Senate passed it 28 to 7. (2023-02-22) source
• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • The statement of purpose for S 1374 lists him first as the Senate contact; he describes it as his bill restoring concealed carry on public property. (2024) source
  • Voted yes on S 1374 (concealed carry on public property leased to private groups); the Senate passed it 28 to 7. (2024-03-11) source
  • Voted yes on S 1275 (employer immunity for firearms on their property); the Senate passed it 28 to 7. (2024-02-29) source
  • His 2026 questionnaire says he has a record defending the Second Amendment and sued the city of Sandpoint over a gun ban. (2026-04) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His record page is headed 'Abortion Should Remain Illegal' and says the intentional killing of preborn children should never be allowed. (2024) source
  • Voted yes on H 374 (criminal abortion law clarifications, keeping life, rape and incest exceptions); the Senate passed it 26 to 7. (2023-03-30) source
  • Voted yes on H 242 (abortion trafficking of minors); the Senate passed it 27 to 7. This vote alone places no one. (2023-03-30) source
• Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on H 406 (mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking); the Senate passed it 28 to 7. (2024-02-15) source
• Ranked-choice votingNo, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on H 179 (ban on ranked-choice voting); the Senate passed it 28 to 7. (2023-03-21) source
• Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on H 161 (work requirements for SNAP food assistance); the Senate passed it 27 to 7. (2023-03-24) source
• DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says he helped defund DEI in Idaho's universities. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on S 1274 (hiring and admissions on merit, no diversity statements); the Senate passed it 27 to 8. (2024-02-21) source
• Death penaltyKeep it for the worst murders under current ruleslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on H 186 (adds the firing squad as a method of execution when lethal injection is unavailable); the Senate passed it 24 to 11. (2023-03-20) source

No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, China policy.

Retired educator, farmer and rancher; candidate

Steve Johnson is an independent candidate for Idaho Senate District 1¹². He is a retired teacher and school principal who has lived on the family farm in Sagle since 1957³⁵. His platform centers on affordability, fully funding public schools and keeping public lands public³⁴.

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.