U.S. House · Idaho's 2nd District
Elinor Gilbreath
CandidateD
- Race
- U.S. House · Idaho's 2nd District
- Result
- Michael K. Simpson, projected winner
- Opponents
- Michael K. Simpson (R); Will Johanson (LIB); Emre Houser (IND); Tripp Hutchinson (IND)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did3 statements · 0 votes
Restore ACA tax credits
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 2
2026-11-03
| Michael K. Simpson R | incumbent |
| Elinor Gilbreath D | challenger |
| Will Johanson LIB | challenger |
| Emre Houser IND | challenger |
| Tripp Hutchinson IND | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Restore ACA tax credits
Her campaign policies page calls for fully funding Medicare and Medicaid and restoring ACA tax credits.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Close the loopholes that favor corporations and the ultra-wealthy.
Her campaign policies page calls for closing tax loopholes that favor corporations and the ultra-wealthy and for collecting unpaid taxes owed by billionaires.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Requiring documentary proof of citizenship creates barriers for Americans who are unquestionably eligible: veterans, elderly citizens, rural Idahoans, and married women who’ve legally changed their names.
In the Idaho Capital Sun questionnaire, says documentary proof of citizenship requirements in the SAVE Act create barriers for eligible citizens.[7]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Elinor (Ellie) Gilbreath, a Democratic Georgetown-trained attorney, mediator and coach from the Ketchum area, lost the November 3, 2026 election for U.S. House in Idaho's 2nd District to Mike Simpson. She has lived in the Ketchum area for about 23 years and describes herself as a political centrist.[1][2][3][4][5]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Gilbreath earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.[2][3][4] She lists her professional background as lawyer, mediator, and conflict resolution and strategy expert, and her Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey cites more than 20 years of experience in conflict resolution and mediation.[8][1] According to the Idaho Mountain Express, she owns and operates a business and personal coaching business under her maiden name, Ellie Newman Coaching.[3]
Gilbreath lists her hometown as Ketchum, Idaho, and gave her age as 63 in an Idaho Capital Sun candidate survey. According to EastIdahoNews.com, her family moved to Idaho in 2003 with their 18-month-old daughter, and she has lived in Ketchum for 23 years.[8][3][4] She has never held elected office, according to the Idaho Mountain Express.[3] Gilbreath entered the Democratic primary shortly before the filing deadline; fellow candidate Julie Wiley endorsed her and later suspended her campaign, and Gilbreath won the May 2026 Democratic primary. She describes herself as a "political centrist."[4][9][10] She received 40.3% of the vote to Mike Simpson's 51.7%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[5]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says her priorities are restoring accountability and balance in government, protecting Idaho's public lands, water, and energy, and lowering the cost of living for Idaho families, including access to affordable healthcare.[11]
- Says she will focus on protecting fundamental freedoms and ensuring government works for everyone rather than special interests.[11]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Broad tariffs on imported goods
“Adjust tariffs, return Constitutional controls to Congress, lowering the cost of groceries, farm supplies, and construction.”[6]
On her campaign policies page
- Loosen zoning rules to build more housing
“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.”[6]
On her campaign policies page
- Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections
“Lower rental rates by preventing algorithm-based price-fixing by property management companies, which has cost Idahoans hundreds of millions of dollars.”[6]
On her campaign policies page
- Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
“America is a closed border nation. We need a strong secure border.”[7]
In the Idaho Capital Sun voter guide questionnaire
Campaign money$107K raised · 100% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $107K
Largest committee contributions
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/elinor-gilbreath
Compare all 5 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Elinor Gilbreath - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.Elinor Gilbreath · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Ketchum resident runs for Congress · Idaho Mountain Express · 2026-03-18 News report
- 4.'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
- 5.U.S. House, Idaho's 2nd District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 6.Policies — Ellie for Idaho · Ellie for Idaho campaign website · 2026-10-03 Candidate's own words
- 7.U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 (2026 general election voter guide) · Idaho Capital Sun · 2026 News report
- 8.Idaho Democratic U.S. House District 2 primary race · Idaho Capital Sun News report
- 9.U.S. Representative Mike Simpson advances to November election as he seeks 15th term in U.S. House · KIVI-TV News report
- 10.Voter guide: Elinor Gilbreath · Local News 8 · 2026-05-12 News report
- 11.Elinor Gilbreath - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words