A contested Republican primary is shaping up in North Idaho as longtime GOP organizer Christa Hazel challenges incumbent Rep. Elaine Price for a House seat representing Coeur d’Alene. The May 19 primary election will determine which candidate advances to the general election in November.
Hazel has been active in mainstream Republican organizing in Coeur d’Alene in recent years and said she wants to focus on Idaho-specific issues including school funding. Price, a local business owner serving her second term, has been aligned with conservative groups such as the Idaho Freedom Foundation and said she wants to continue representing North Idaho’s interests at the state capitol.
Price on North Idaho Representation
Price decided to seek another term because she believes North Idaho faces unique challenges that differ from those in southern Idaho. She pointed to rapid growth in Coeur d’Alene, particularly among remote workers, as one area requiring focused attention from legislators.
One of Price’s priorities is what she describes as protecting children from inappropriate content and early exposure to adult concepts. When asked about specific instances in her district, Price said she believes society is trying to normalize certain behaviors at too young an age.
Price cited inappropriate books in school libraries as a concern, noting that House Bill 710 addressed some of those issues during the recent legislative session. She said parents, not society at large, should decide what content is appropriate for their children.
Education Policy Positions
Price said she wants schools to focus on core academics and let teachers concentrate on instruction rather than taking on roles as social workers or counselors. She did not identify specific programs she would cut but said she prefers fewer policies overall and a return to traditional teaching expectations.
On special education funding, Price acknowledged hearing about the $100 million gap between what Idaho school districts spend on special education services and what they receive in state and federal reimbursement. She said she needs to understand the issue more fully but expressed frustration with unfunded federal mandates and a preference for state-level solutions.
Price supported private school choice legislation during the recent session, including House Bill 93. She said she would be willing to expand the program if Idahoans support it. Price has repeatedly sponsored efforts to repeal Idaho’s Blaine Amendment, a constitutional provision that prohibits taxpayer funds from benefiting private religious schools.
The incumbent lawmaker supports completely replacing Idaho’s school funding formula, which has been in place for more than 30 years. Price said the formula has become outdated and should be scrapped and rewritten from scratch. She said she would like to reduce state requirements that schools must meet to access funding but did not offer specific opinions on most aspects of the current formula.
Response to Legislation
Price defended her support for a moment of silence bill passed during the recent legislative session, which requires a full minute of silence at the start of each school day. Some teachers criticized the law as impractical and argued it adds to the list of daily requirements they must meet.
Price said she considers that perspective unfortunate and believes students are overstimulated by computer screens and other distractions. She said the intent behind the legislation was to give children a break from constant stimulation.
Campaign Finance Questions
During her time as treasurer for the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee in 2024, Price signed checks that went to support her own campaign through advertising and other expenditures. A complaint was filed with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office over the matter.
Price said she did not violate any rules and that she was unaware what specific purposes the checks served beyond general categories such as advertising. She said she paid invoices as they arrived.
What Comes Next
The May 19 Republican primary will determine which candidate advances to represent the party in November. Voters in Coeur d’Alene and surrounding areas will decide whether to return Price to the Idaho House or send challenger Hazel to Boise. The race represents a contest between competing visions of Republican priorities in North Idaho, with education policy and local representation at the center of the campaign.