Legislative District 32 Incumbents and Bonneville County Coroner Face Challengers at Idaho Falls Candidate Forum
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Three contested Republican primary races took center stage Monday evening as incumbents and challengers squared off at a candidate forum hosted by the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and EastIdahoNews.com at Compass Academy in Idaho Falls.
The forum, held April 28, featured debates in two Legislative District 32 House seats as well as the Bonneville County Coroner race — all in advance of the Republican primary election. The event ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and was moderated by EastIdahoNews.com reporter Nate Eaton.
Three Contested Races on Display in Bonneville County
The evening opened at 6 p.m. with the Legislative District 32 Seat B matchup, where incumbent Erin Bingham faced challenger Brian McKellar. At 6:30 p.m., the forum shifted to Legislative District 32 Seat A, where incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen debated challenger Kelly Golden.
The final debate of the evening began at 7 p.m., featuring Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez defending her seat against challenger Tim Shuijt. All three races are contested within the Republican primary, meaning the outcome of the primary will carry significant weight heading into the general election cycle.
Tuesday’s event was part of a broader series of six debates organized around the primary season. According to EastIdahoNews.com, additional debates featuring primary candidates for Legislative Districts 35 and 32 are scheduled to be streamed Thursday.
All three debates were streamed live on the EastIdahoNews.com website, the outlet’s YouTube channel, and its Facebook page, giving Bonneville County residents who could not attend in person access to the full exchange between candidates.
Voters in East Idaho Weigh Primary Choices
The debates reflect a broader pattern of competitive primary activity across Bonneville County and East Idaho heading into the 2026 election cycle. With multiple incumbents facing challengers within their own party, Republican voters in the region are being asked to weigh records against fresh perspectives on local governance and public service.
Legislative District 32 covers portions of Bonneville County, making the outcomes of both House seat races directly relevant to residents of Idaho Falls and surrounding communities. The coroner’s race, meanwhile, draws attention to an often-overlooked but essential county office responsible for investigating deaths and serving families during difficult circumstances.
Voter engagement in local races has taken on added importance in communities across Idaho as Bonneville Joint School District weighs significant program cuts ahead of a $19.2 million levy vote and residents track the impact of state and federal decisions on everyday life. Primary elections frequently determine the effective outcome in heavily Republican counties like Bonneville, underscoring the stakes of Tuesday night’s forum.
The debates also come as East Idaho residents continue to navigate a range of local and regional issues. Earlier this year, President Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Idaho, a reminder that local officials and their decision-making carry real consequences for communities across the region.
The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce has played an active role in organizing civic engagement events ahead of election season, co-hosting the forum series alongside EastIdahoNews.com to ensure residents have direct access to candidates before casting ballots.
What Comes Next
Thursday’s additional debates will continue the forum series, with candidates from Legislative Districts 35 and 32 scheduled to face off in races streamed by EastIdahoNews.com. Republican primary voters in Bonneville County will have the final say on these contested seats when ballots are cast. Residents are encouraged to review candidate positions and make use of available voter information resources ahead of the primary deadline. Full debate recordings from Tuesday’s event remain available through EastIdahoNews.com’s YouTube channel and Facebook page for those who missed the live broadcast.