Carissa Brewer

Carissa Brewer is the Democratic candidate for Idaho State Senate District 4 in the November 3, 2026 general election, running against incumbent Ben Toews (R).[1][2] Brewer is a pharmacist who ran for the same seat in 2024.[1]

Carissa Brewer earned a high school diploma from Valhalla High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2003, graduated from the University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2007, and took classes at the University of Texas, Austin.[1] According to her Ballotpedia survey response, she has lived in the Coeur d'Alene area since 2012, when she took a position as an ambulatory care pharmacist at Kootenai Health, and decided in 2018 to focus primarily on raising her children.[3] The survey response says she volunteers with theater organizations and coaches soccer for the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department.[3]

Brewer was the Democratic nominee for Idaho State Senate District 4 in 2024 and lost the general election to Toews, 66.3% to 33.7%.[1] She was unopposed in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary.[1]

In the survey, Brewer's responses list broader access to affordable health care, repealing the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit and investing that money in public education, more affordable housing programs, a higher minimum wage and public transit among her priorities.[3] They also say she supports the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act that will be on the November ballot.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.