U.S. House · Idaho's 1st District
Western Idaho, including Boise's western suburbs, Nampa, Caldwell, and the Idaho Panhandle north to the Canadian border.
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED
Russ Fulcher, projected winner
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Russ Fulcher | 243,645 | 64.3% |
| Kaylee Peterson | 108,990 | 28.8% |
| Sarah Zabel | 23,001 | 6.1% |
| Brendan Gomez | 3,412 | 0.9% |
About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗
Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research
- Incumbent Russ Fulcher defeated Andy Briner and Joseph Morrison in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 78.2% of the vote. Kaylee Peterson defeated Ken Brungardt in the Democratic primary with 87.1% of the vote. Brendan Gomez advanced from the Constitution Party without a primary after it was canceled.[1]
- The Cook Political Report rates this district R+22 by partisan voting index.[1]
On the November 3 ballot · 4 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Russ Fulcher
- Kaylee PetersonSupports[7]
Platform criticizes Idaho's post-Dobbs abortion restrictions and calls for lawmakers to defer to women and medical providers.
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah Zabel—
Stricter gun laws
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[31][32][33]
Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27), which would have required background checks on most private gun sales. Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons. Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs.
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah Zabel—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]
Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).
- Kaylee PetersonOpposes[7]
Platform calls for shutting down private for-profit detention facilities and stopping mass deportations.
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah ZabelMixed[8]
In a questionnaire answer, supports funding border security and deporting people who commit serious crimes, along with green cards for Dreamers and case-by-case review for other undocumented immigrants.
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing
- Russ Fulcher—
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah ZabelIn their own words[9]
“The federal government can help by removing obstacles that drive up building, outfitting, and insurance costs for new housing, starting with tariffs and a broken worker visa system.”
On her campaign website
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[19][20][21][28]
Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.
- Kaylee PetersonSupports[7]
Platform calls for increasing corporate tax rates and removing corporate tax breaks and subsidies.
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah ZabelSupports[9]
Her campaign site says she supports tax reform that asks more from those with the highest earnings.
Expand public health coverage
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
- Russ Fulcher
- Kaylee PetersonSupports[7]
Platform criticizes federal fossil fuel subsidies and rollbacks of clean-energy contracts and calls for expanding solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal energy.
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah Zabel—
Raise the minimum wage
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[34]
Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).
- Kaylee PetersonSupports[7]
Platform calls for increasing the federal minimum wage.
- Brendan GomezIn their own words[10]
“Economic collapse, religious tyranny, drug abuse, a lack of a living wage, the war on renters, unaffordable healthcare costs, and inadequate education are but a few of the catastrophes plaguing the nation.”
In his League of Women Voters / Vote411 answer on the most significant challenges facing Idaho and the U.S.
- Sarah Zabel—
Broad tariffs on imported goods
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[29]
Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah ZabelOpposes[3]
Says federal tariffs are burdening the economy and should be reduced to make living more affordable.
Universal, publicly funded child care
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[27]
Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah Zabel—
Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
- Russ FulcherRecorded votes[30]
Voted no on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah ZabelSupports[9]
Her campaign site says service members should be entered into military conflicts only with congressional authorization.
Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports
- Russ FulcherSupports[16]
Cosponsored H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.
- Kaylee Peterson—
- Brendan Gomez—
- Sarah Zabel—
Research notes & limits
Basic-tier research; no key floor votes or FEC totals compiled for Fulcher (added later by script). Fulcher's official House issues pages (abortion, 2nd Amendment, border security, healthcare, economy/debt) were checked; those pages did not directly address taxes on high earners/corporations, tariffs, or Israel aid specifically, so no positions were added on those issues. Biographies expanded from Fulcher's official bio, Ballotpedia, and the Idaho Press; Brendan Gomez has no Ballotpedia survey, campaign biography, or news profile found, so his biography is limited to election history.
Sources · 49
Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.About Russ Fulcher · Office of Rep. Russ Fulcher Official record
- 3.Sarah Zabel - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 4.Border Security and Immigration · Office of Rep. Russ Fulcher · 2026-09-25 Official record
- 5.Abortion · Office of Rep. Russ Fulcher · 2026-09-25 Official record
- 6.Economy, Debt, and Deficits · Office of Rep. Russ Fulcher · 2026-09-25 Official record
- 7.Kaylee Peterson's Platform · Kaylee Peterson for Congress campaign website Candidate's own words
- 8.U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 (2026 general election voter guide) · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026 News report
- 9.What I Stand For · Zabel for Congress (campaign site) Candidate's own words
- 10.Idaho US House District 1 voter guide · League of Women Voters / Vote411 Candidate's own words
- 11.About Russ Fulcher · Office of Rep. Russ Fulcher Official record
- 12.Russ Fulcher · Ballotpedia Reference
- 13.Idaho U.S. House District 1 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
- 14.H.R. 22, the SAVE Act (SAVE Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 15.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 16.H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 17.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 18.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 19.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 20.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
- 21.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 22.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
- 23.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
- 24.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
- 25.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 26.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 27.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
- 28.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
- 29.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 30.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 31.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
- 32.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
- 33.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
- 34.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
- 35.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
- 36.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
- 37.Kaylee Peterson · Ballotpedia Reference
- 38.Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 39.Idaho's District 1 candidates talk public lands, healthcare, immigration · Idaho Press · 2026-10-12 News report
- 40.U.S. House, Idaho's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 41.Brendan Gomez · Ballotpedia Reference
- 42.Idaho congressional candidate pleads guilty to possession of child sex abuse material · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026-09-17 News report
- 43.U.S. House, Idaho's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 44.Sarah Zabel - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 45.Sarah Zabel (Idaho) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 46.Why an ex-GOP independent is challenging Rep. Russ Fulcher · Idaho Press · 2026-07-08 News report
- 47.Sarah Zabel | Bio · Sarah Zabel (campaign site) · 2026-10-21 Candidate's own words
- 48.Idaho's District 1 candidates talk public lands, healthcare, immigration · Idaho Press · 2026-10-12 News report
- 49.U.S. House, Idaho's 1st District results 2026 · NBC News News report