IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Incumbent state Rep. Barbara Ehardt has secured the Republican nomination for Legislative District 33 Seat A, turning back a competitive primary challenge from political newcomer Connor Cook by fewer than 200 votes, according to unofficial results. All results remain unofficial pending formal certification by the State Board of Canvassers.
With all 51 precincts reporting, Ehardt earned 51.59 percent of the vote — a slim but sufficient margin to advance to the November general election, where she will face Democrat Chance Marshall, who ran unopposed in his party’s primary.
A Race Defined by Tax Policy and Social Issues
The contest between Ehardt and Cook presented Bonneville County Republican voters with two distinct governing philosophies. Ehardt campaigned on an aggressive property tax relief plan, proposing to reduce the property tax burden on Idaho homeowners by offsetting lost revenue through an increase in the state sales tax. The approach appealed to residents across Bonneville County who have watched property valuations — and corresponding tax bills — climb steadily in recent years.
Cook offered a contrasting fiscal vision, emphasizing budget stabilization while calling for greater government spending on public education and increased recruitment efforts for Idaho State Police troopers. He positioned himself as a pragmatic alternative to what he characterized as destabilizing tax restructuring.
The two candidates also clashed sharply over social policy, with the debate centering on Idaho’s law restricting the use of public restrooms to individuals whose biological sex matches the designated facility. Ehardt, who voted in favor of the legislation during the session, defended it throughout the campaign as a measure to protect women and children. She argued that government has a responsibility to safeguard the rights and safety of Idaho citizens.
Cook opposed the law, framing it as government overreach and raising concerns about the separation of church and state in Idaho’s broader legislative direction. “We became the most authoritative state in the country as far as who goes to the bathroom,” Cook said in pre-election interviews. He expressed concern that Idaho’s recent legislative session had pushed toward mandating moments of silence in public schools and, in his view, blurred constitutional lines between government and religion.
Ehardt’s Path to the Nomination
Ehardt’s tenure in the Idaho House dates to late 2017, when she was appointed to her seat by former Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. She has since won multiple elections to hold the Idaho Falls-area seat and has built a record as a consistent conservative voice in the legislature on both fiscal and social issues.
The primary result was among the tighter contests in Bonneville County’s May election cycle. Elsewhere in the county, other incumbent and challenger races produced their own notable outcomes. In Legislative District 30, a rematch produced a clear result, with Rep. Fuhriman defeating former Rep. Young to retain his seat — details available in our District 30 primary rematch coverage. County commission races also saw incumbents tested, with the commission chairman holding off a primary challenge while a newcomer claimed an open seat, as reported in our Bonneville County commissioner primary recap.
Ehardt’s November matchup against Marshall will determine who represents the Idaho Falls district in the Idaho Legislature when the next session convenes. Republicans hold a commanding advantage in legislative seats across Bonneville County and the broader eastern Idaho region, meaning Ehardt enters the general election as the clear frontrunner.
What Comes Next
All primary results across Bonneville County remain unofficial until the State Board of Canvassers completes formal certification. Once certified, Ehardt and Marshall will begin general election campaigns ahead of the November vote. Voters in District 33A will have a clear ideological choice between Ehardt’s conservative platform — anchored by property tax restructuring and defense of recent Idaho social legislation — and Marshall’s Democratic alternative. For continued coverage of Bonneville County election results, visit Idaho News for statewide election analysis.