Two North Idaho Incumbents and Kootenai County Assessor Ousted in Republican Primary
Two sitting North Idaho state legislators and the Kootenai County assessor were defeated in Tuesday’s Republican primary election, signaling a rightward shift in parts of the North Idaho legislative delegation while other conservative incumbents held their seats comfortably. Voters in Kootenai County also weighed in on several local races and ballot measures with results that will reshape county government heading into the general election.
Herndon Wins Third Round Against Woodward in District 1
The most closely watched legislative race in the region pitted former state Sen. Scott Herndon against incumbent Sen. Jim Woodward in Idaho’s 1st Legislative District — the third matchup between the two in recent cycles. Herndon claimed victory with 53.4% of the vote, continuing what has become an ongoing rivalry. Herndon unseated Woodward in 2022, lost the seat back to him in 2024, and now reclaims it again heading into November.
In a Facebook post following the results, Herndon said he was honored by the outcome. “Property tax relief, parental rights, and accountable government — that’s what you voted for, and that’s what I’ll deliver in Boise,” he wrote.
Also in District 1, Jane Sauter defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Sauter — the two are not related — by a margin of 53.4% to 46.6%. Jane Sauter had previously lost a three-way primary bid against Mark Sauter in 2024. Mark Sauter was first elected in 2022. Together, the Herndon and Jane Sauter victories represent a shift away from relatively moderate legislators in favor of more conservative challengers.
On the other side of that ledger, several conservative incumbents had no such trouble. Rep. Elaine Price, who represents the Coeur d’Alene area in District 4B, defeated challenger Christa Hazel with 59.5% of the vote. Incumbents Cornel Rasor, Dale Hawkins, Vito Barbieri, and Price all won their contested primaries by comfortable margins.
Kovacs Loses Assessor Race by Wide Margin
In the most lopsided county race of the night, Kootenai County Assessor Bela Kovacs was turned out of office by former chief deputy assessor Allyson Knapp, who captured 65.6% of the vote to Kovacs’ 34.4%.
Kovacs, who was appointed to the assessor position by county commissioners in 2020 and won election in 2022, had faced repeated complaints during his tenure regarding management practices and workplace culture. The Kootenai County Commission cut his salary in half in 2022 citing poor performance, though a district judge later restored his pay. Kovacs previously resigned from a similar role in Spokane County under comparable circumstances.
The race drew notable attention in recent months after Kovacs moved to implement a policy allowing him to terminate employees who ran against him — and after commissioners blocked what they described as a baseless challenge to Knapp’s eligibility for a homeowner’s exemption on her Rathdrum property. Knapp, a residential appraiser and longtime Realtor in the Inland Northwest, had resigned as deputy assessor under Kovacs in 2022. The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, which had backed Kovacs in 2022, declined to make an endorsement this cycle. The rival North Idaho Republicans group recommended Knapp.
“Thank you again for believing in this campaign, showing up for our community, and being part of this movement,” Knapp wrote on Facebook after the results came in. Election Day brought several contested races across Kootenai County.
Other County Races and Ballot Measures
Several other incumbent officeholders defended their seats by wide margins. County Clerk Jennifer Locke won re-election with 86.7% of the vote. Commissioner Bruce Mattare held his seat with 76.7% against his challenger. Coroner Duke Johnson ran unopposed.
In the open District 1 county commissioner seat, Julie Hensley won the Republican primary with 56% over John Padula. For county treasurer, Carlos Zamora defeated Teresa Mallery with 57.4%.
On the ballot measure front, the Lakeland Joint School District’s $3 million plant facilities levy failed, with 57.3% of voters opposing it. The measure required a 55% supermajority to pass. Meanwhile, the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue temporary levy override succeeded with 62.3% approval. The measure authorizes an additional $5.2 million annually over the next two years to fund fire and rescue operations across the county.
What Comes Next
Republican primary winners in legislative and county races will advance to the November 2026 general election. In heavily Republican North Idaho, many of these primary results effectively determine the outcome of the general election. Knapp will face any general election opposition for the assessor seat, while Herndon and Jane Sauter will carry the District 1 banner for Republicans in the fall. For more on Idaho-wide primary results, visit Idaho News. Earlier this year, the Idaho Legislature also passed significant policy measures, including legislation establishing Medicaid work requirements that will factor into the fall campaign conversation.