Russ Fulcher
Russ Fulcher is a fourth-generation Idahoan and has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. He is re-running as the Republican candidate for District 1.
Fulcher served in the Idaho Senate for 10 years and his legislation and Idaho’s grocery tax credit has returned around $800 million to Idaho’s families, according to his website.
Fulcher additionally served on the Idaho Senate State Affairs and Education Committees, where he worked to “protect the rights of individual Idahoans, to limit government influence in individuals’ lives, to ease tax and regulatory burdens and to restore God-given rights.”
Fulcher currently sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Fulcher is working to enhance the privacy protections and data security of Americans.
“Big tech companies have a growing impact on the information we receive and the opinions we are able to share,” Fulcher said on his website. “When it comes to arbitrary bans and censorship, there is no longer a question of bias existing.”
Kaylee Peterson
Kaylee Peterson is running as the Democratic candidate for the Idaho District 1 U.S. Representative.
“It is time to retire [Fulcher’s] brand of politics and replace him with a person who will work for all her constituents, not just those who share his fringe philosophy,” Peterson said via her website.
Peterson comes from a family that has been farming in Idaho for six generations. She is currently a sophomore in an Idaho college, double majoring in political science and criminal justice.
“I listened to what Idahoans from across the political spectrum want to government,” Peterson’s website said. “Enough of political theater and party politics distracting from the real issues. Idahoans want common sense, integrity and real solutions. I am dedicated to this race, for the long term, so that hard working Idahoans have a real voice, true representation that prioritizes them over out of state special interests and corporate lobbyists.”
Peterson believes that this election may be the most important of this generation and it will set the tone for our nation for years to come.
Peterson has a passion for policy and government with an ability to look at complicated issues from any angle and she has championed collaboration between faculty, staff and students at her college, according to her website. She has experience working for local campaigns, non-profits and volunteer events.
Peterson believes that perseverance, community, collaboration and kindness are all values that make Idaho great, and that those values are getting harder and harder to find in political leadership. Peterson is “committed to bringing reasoned, bipartisan leadership back to Idaho to focus on the issues that truly matter, putting people over party and rebuilding accountability and transparency in our political process.”
Matt Loesby
Matt Loesby is the Libertarian candidate running for Idaho District 1 U.S. Representative.
Loesby claims that Fulcher still regularly votes along with the Washington establishment to increase the debt limit, fund many agencies that infringe on liberties and “spend our grandchildren’s savings before they are even born,” which is why Loesby has chosen to run against him.
“The Republicans in Idaho need a real challenge from a party that loves what Idaho is and is unhappy with how the GOP sells us out for political gains in DC,” Loesby said via his website. “The Democrats are possessed by the Progressive movement, which would seek to destroy the things we love about Idaho and is a non-starter. The Libertarian Party can be the vehicle for real opposition to the GOP that defends Idahoan liberty and culture.”
“I don’t want this job,” Loesby continued. “I don’t want to spend time in Washington, DC, away from my family, my church, my community, and my beloved Rockies. However, I believe that my platform will serve the people of Idaho better than any Republican, and better than any other candidate in this race. I have the experience dealing with parliamentary minutia to navigate the corrupt halls of Congress and put up roadblocks against the U.S. Regime’s intrusions on our rights. I can serve God, liberty, and the people of Idaho, and so I will go where I am needed.”
Brendan J. Gomez
Brendan J. Gomez is running as the Constitutional candidate for Idaho District 1 U.S. Representative.
Gomez did not have any campaign information available for the Argonaut.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at [email protected].