Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal Challenges Incumbent Judge in 7th District Race
Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal has entered the race for a seat on the Seventh Judicial District bench, setting up the first contested judge’s race in the district in 12 years.
Neal is challenging Judge Steven Boyce, who has held the position since Governor Brad Little appointed him in May 2019. Boyce ran without opposition when he stood for re-election in May 2022.
A District Spanning Across Eastern Idaho
The Seventh Judicial District covers a wide swath of Eastern Idaho, encompassing Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton counties — making the outcome of this race consequential for courts serving a large portion of the region.
Neal took office as Bonneville County’s top prosecutor in July 2022, following his victory in the May 2021 primary. In a recent interview, he addressed his motivations for pursuing the judgeship, touching on topics that include plea agreements, public misconceptions about how the legal system operates, and the ongoing debate over cameras in courtrooms.
Why Neal Says He Wants to Be a Judge
The prosecutor outlined his reasoning for making the switch from the courtroom’s prosecution table to the bench, though full details of his stated rationale were discussed at length in a video interview rather than in a written statement. Neal’s decision to challenge an appointed incumbent is itself notable — judicial races in the district have gone uncontested for over a decade.
Judge Boyce, for his part, has also spoken publicly about his record and his case for remaining on the bench.
The race adds a competitive element to Bonneville County’s political landscape at a time when local government decisions are drawing heightened public attention. Residents across the county have been closely watching several significant community issues, including a proposed local ordinance that would restrict kratom sales in Idaho Falls and a $19.2 million levy vote tied to potential program cuts in the Bonneville Joint School District.
What Comes Next
Voters across the Seventh Judicial District will have the opportunity to weigh in on the Neal-Boyce race at the ballot box. With no contested judicial election in the district since 2014, the matchup has drawn attention from legal observers and civic leaders throughout Eastern Idaho. Both candidates have made themselves available for public questioning, giving voters an opportunity to evaluate their respective visions for the district court before casting their ballots.