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U.S. House · Idaho's 2nd District

Eastern Idaho, including Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Boise's eastern portion.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Michael K. Simpson, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Mike Simpson170,72151.7%
Ellie Gilbreath133,06240.3%
Tripp Hutchinson11,6283.5%
Emre Houser7,8482.4%
Will Johanson7,1392.2%

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 Michael K. Simpson defeated Brian Keene and Perry Shumway in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 63.3% of the vote. Elinor Gilbreath defeated Julie Wiley (who unofficially withdrew) in the Democratic primary with 72.5% of the vote. Will Johanson advanced from the Libertarian primary; Idaho Law (Constitution Party) is listed as withdrawn or disqualified and does not appear in the general election.[1]
  • The Cook Political Report rates this district R+13 by partisan voting index.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 5 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

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[40][41][42]

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03), which would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[35][36][37][38]

    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. Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06), which would have required states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded 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).

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    In their own words[8]
    “America is a closed border nation. We need a strong secure border.”

    In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide questionnaire

  • Will Johanson
    In their own words[9]
    “the runaway immigration—both legal and illegal—depresses wages, drives up the cost of housing, and makes our communities less safe.”

    In the CBS2/FOX9 candidate survey, Aug. 2026

  • Emre Houser
    In their own words[10]
    “ICE raids keep legal workers home. Not having our workers safely making it to their jobs hurts every industry and will be felt in every corner of our state.”

    On the Agricultural Support section of his campaign platform page

  • Tripp Hutchinson
    In their own words[8]
    “Congress needs to legislate a much more efficient and robust pathway to citizenship for law abiding immigrants that are already in our country.”

    In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide questionnaire

Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections

  • Michael K. Simpson
    —
  • Elinor Gilbreath
    In their own words[7]
    “Lower rental rates by preventing algorithm-based price-fixing by property management companies, which has cost Idahoans hundreds of millions of dollars.”

    On her campaign policies page

  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Michael K. Simpson
    —
  • Elinor Gilbreath
    In their own words[7]
    “Lower the cost of housing by expanding the ROAD to Housing Act, cutting more red tape, funding rural housing, and outright banning corporate purchase of single-family homes.”

    On her campaign policies page

  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[19][20][21][31][30]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), 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.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    Supports[7]

    Her campaign policies page calls for closing tax loopholes that favor corporations and the ultra-wealthy and for collecting unpaid taxes owed by billionaires.

  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    Supports[10]

    His campaign platform calls for ending tax loopholes and the "buy, borrow, die" system, and for removing the Social Security wage cap.

  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[19][20][21][26][27][28]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Voted no on Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590, 2010-03-21). Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    Supports[7]

    Her campaign policies page calls for fully funding Medicare and Medicaid and restoring ACA tax credits.

  • Will Johanson
    In their own words[9]
    “healthcare costs have gone completely out of control, and the root cause is our tangled web of regulation that benefits the largest corporations and stifles free-market competition.”

    In the CBS2/FOX9 candidate survey, Aug. 2026

  • Emre Houser
    In their own words[10]
    “If the drug prices that the Veterans Administration pays for drugs were applied to Medicare and Medicaid, the estimated annual savings for the Government and copays would range from $20-$40 billion per year.”

    On the Medical Spending Savings section of his campaign platform page

  • Tripp Hutchinson
    Supports[8]

    In the Idaho Capital Sun questionnaire, says he is working toward a public single-payer system.

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[19][20][21][29][30]

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[39]

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    Supports[9]

    In the CBS2/FOX9 survey, says Congress must raise the minimum wage.

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[34]

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    In their own words[7]
    “Adjust tariffs, return Constitutional controls to Congress, lowering the cost of groceries, farm supplies, and construction.”

    On her campaign policies page

  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    Mixed[10]

    His campaign platform says current tariffs raise household costs but that responsible tariffs are useful in limited circumstances.

  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[29]

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[25]

    Voted yes on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    Opposes[8]

    In the Idaho Capital Sun questionnaire, says documentary proof of citizenship requirements in the SAVE Act create barriers for eligible citizens.

  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    Opposes[8]

    Asked in the Idaho Capital Sun questionnaire whether he supports the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register, says he does not.

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Michael K. Simpson
    Recorded votes[32][33]

    Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. 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.

  • Elinor Gilbreath
    —
  • Will Johanson
    —
  • Emre Houser
    —
  • Tripp Hutchinson
    —

Research notes & limits

Basic-tier research; no key floor votes or FEC totals compiled for Simpson (added later by script). Biographies drawn from official bio, campaign sites (Johanson, Houser, Hutchinson), and Idaho Mountain Express/EastIdahoNews.com reporting; Gilbreath's campaign site (ellieforidaho.com) could not be fetched. No birthplace, education or age found for Houser, Hutchinson or Gilbreath.

Sources · 62

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Idaho's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Michael K. Simpson · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Elinor Gilbreath - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Immigration · Office of Rep. Mike Simpson Official record
  5. 5.Fiscal Responsibility · Office of Rep. Mike Simpson Official record
  6. 6.Energy · Office of Rep. Mike Simpson Official record
  7. 7.Policies — Ellie for Idaho · Ellie for Idaho campaign website · 2026-10-03 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 (2026 general election voter guide) · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026 News report
  9. 9.2026 general election survey: U.S. House of Representatives District 2 · CBS2 / FOX9 Idaho (Idaho News) · 2026-08-24 News report
  10. 10.Platform · Houser for Idaho (campaign site) Candidate's own words
  11. 11.Meet Mike · Office of Rep. Mike Simpson Official record
  12. 12.Mike Simpson (American politician) · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  13. 13.Michael K. Simpson · Ballotpedia Reference
  14. 14.Idaho U.S. House District 2 election results 2026 · NBC News · 2026-11-09 News report
  15. 15.H.R. 7296, the SAVE America Act (SAVE America Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  16. 16.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  17. 17.H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act (Life at Conception Act) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  20. 20.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  23. 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. 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. 25.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Affordable Care Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2010-03-21 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  29. 29.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  30. 30.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  31. 31.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  32. 32.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  33. 33.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  34. 34.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  35. 35.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  36. 36.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  37. 37.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  38. 38.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  39. 39.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  40. 40.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  41. 41.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  42. 42.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record
  43. 43.Elinor Gilbreath - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  44. 44.Elinor Gilbreath · Ballotpedia Reference
  45. 45.Ketchum resident runs for Congress · Idaho Mountain Express · 2026-03-18 News report
  46. 46.'Idaho is not for sale': Why Democrat Ellie Gilbreath thinks it's time for change in the state's 2nd Congressional District · EastIdahoNews.com · 2026-05-23 News report
  47. 47.Idaho Democratic U.S. House District 2 primary race · Idaho Capital Sun News report
  48. 48.U.S. Representative Mike Simpson advances to November election as he seeks 15th term in U.S. House · KIVI-TV News report
  49. 49.Voter guide: Elinor Gilbreath · Local News 8 · 2026-05-12 News report
  50. 50.U.S. House, Idaho's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  51. 51.Idaho's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  52. 52.Meet your candidate · Johanson for Idaho Candidate's own words
  53. 53.U.S. House, Idaho's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  54. 54.Idaho's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  55. 55.Houser for Idaho · Houser for Idaho Candidate's own words
  56. 56.The Oath Never Expires · Houser for Idaho Candidate's own words
  57. 57.U.S. House, Idaho's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
  58. 58.Idaho's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  59. 59.Ketchum councilman sentenced for misdemeanor · Idaho Mountain Express · 2026-04-06 News report
  60. 60.Tripp Hutchinson for United States Congress (ID-2) · Tripp Hutchinson for Congress Candidate's own words
  61. 61.Ketchum councilman announces run for Congress · Idaho Mountain Express · 2026-02-13 News report
  62. 62.U.S. House, Idaho's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report