W. Lane Startin

W. Lane Startin is the Democratic candidate for Idaho State Senate District 25 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Republican Casey Swensen.[1][2] Startin previously ran for Idaho Treasurer in 2014 and for the Idaho House of Representatives, District 25A, in 2024.[1]

W. Lane Startin was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, earned a high school diploma from Twin Falls High School and a bachelor's degree from Idaho State University in 1996, and also attended the College of Southern Idaho.[1] His career experience includes work as a technician, freelance writer, call center manager and insurance agent, and as of 2024 he was affiliated with the Southern Idaho chapter of American Mensa.[1] In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, Startin described himself as a lead field service technician for a major medical technology company who returned to Idaho after living and working in other parts of the country.[3]

Startin ran in the Democratic primary for Idaho Treasurer in 2014 and received 16% of the vote against Deborah Silver, who won with 84%.[1] In 2024 he was the Democratic nominee for Idaho House of Representatives District 25A and lost the general election to incumbent Lance Clow (R), 72.1% to 27.9%.[1] He was unopposed in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for Senate District 25.[1]

In the 2024 survey, Startin listed his key messages as upholding the Twin Falls tradition of moderation, personal choice and restoring local option, and named personal liberty, education and growth as policy areas he cares about.[3] He said the state's greatest challenges over the next decade are growth, maintaining personal freedoms and resisting political extremism, and that the ballot initiative process should be made easier.[3]

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