A race on the right: What to know about Idaho’s 2026 primary elections

Among the six states holding primaries on Tuesday is the solidly red enclave of Idaho, nestled in the northwest, close to the United States border with Canada. The state’s Republican bona fides are well established. Not since 1974 has it sent a Democrat to the US Senate. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list The last Democrat elected to federal office was in 2008 — and that politician, US Representative Walt Minnick, only served a single term. But its deep-red streak makes Tuesday’s primary races all the more important for the state. The winners on the Republican side are likely to sail to victory in November’s general election. Still, the vote is expected to serve as a bellwether for the future of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump’s leadership. Many of the state’s Republican primaries are contests between moderates and more hardline conservatives. Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s vote: What time do polls open? The polls will be open from 8am to 8pm local time (14:00 GMT on May 19 to 02:00 GMT on May 20). What positions are up for grabs? Idaho is a largely agricultural state, with a modest population of more than 2 million. That means it only has two members in the US House of Representatives, which divides its 435 seats among the states according to the number of residents. Both of Idaho’s House seats will be up for grabs, as well as one of Idaho’s spots in the US Senate. …