During the 2026 election cycle, Idaho voters have had very few opportunities to see Republican incumbents answer questions at live, public events. For years, it was the norm for major candidates in statewide and federal races to appear live and debate each other.
“It was a tradition in Idaho,” said Betsy Russell, former longtime president of the Idaho Press Club and current president for Idahoans for Openness in Government. “That was how candidates, including incumbents seeking reelection, got out there and put their views and how they contrasted with those of their opponents, in front of all voters all across the state of Idaho.”
Idaho Public Television, which for years has broadcast its Idaho Debates series statewide, did not have the staffing to put on the events this year, according to Melissa Davlin, IPTV producer and Idaho Press Club president. “I do think there are some incumbents who would have said yes to debates had that been a possibility,” Davlin said.
Davlin also noted that there’s a national trend of candidates from both major parties declining debates. Of the 35 U.S. Senate seats up for election this year, 21 of them had no debate between the major candidates, ABC News reported. Similarly, of the 36 governors up for election, 21 of those races had no debate scheduled between two major-party candidates. “This is not Idaho-specific,” Davlin said. “… and you could say a big part of that is the siloing of social media. People who are running for office often have or feel like they have a direct line to voters.”
The League of Women Voters of Idaho this year held forums for U.S. Senate candidates and gubernatorial candidates. The Republican incumbents in both of those races declined to participate. U.S. Sen. Jim Risch’s campaign spokesman previously told the Sun that he declined that forum because the individual who reached out to him to ask about participation had endorsed his opponent. The league’s president Jean Henscheid told the Sun that individual, former state Rep. Julie Yamamoto, had reached out in her own capacity and was not one of the event’s organizers.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s campaign manager Joan Vargas did not directly answer a question about why the governor has not participated in debates this election cycle. “Governor Little has a proven track record of providing Idahoans historic tax relief, promoting a strong economy, cutting red tape, responsibly managing state government. On his watch, Idaho has made record investments in schools, roads, water, and other areas. Those historic accomplishments and facts are non-debatable,” Vargas wrote. “Governor Little has made it a priority to meet with Idaho families, businesses, and members of the press. Idahoans know what Governor Little stands for. They know he will continue to fight for them and make our state the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay.”
Little was the only incumbent statewide elected official to not respond to the Idaho Capital Sun’s 2026 general election candidate survey.
Idaho candidates had a long history of debating until 2022 Elinor Chehey has helped organize debates with the League of Women Voters of Idaho since the 1970s. “It seemed to go real well through the ’90s and since 2000 … and then suddenly in the last five or six years, it’s been different,” Chehey said. “With less participation.”
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