Four Idaho Candidates Run as Independents With Democratic Ties

Four Idaho candidates will appear on the November 3 ballot as independents, though their records show connections to the Democratic Party.

Kathryn Larson is running for House District 1B in northern Idaho. She previously sought office as a Democrat in 2024. Her current run has no party designation, but her earlier affiliation remains part of her electoral history.

Steve Johnson is seeking the District 1 Senate seat. He previously ran as a Democrat. Campaign finance records indicate the Idaho Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee gave him $500 on September 28, 2026. This payment represents direct financial support from a Democratic organization for his independent bid.

Kevin Moxley is running for House District 24A. He received $800 from the Twin Falls County Democratic Central Committee. The payments occurred in two parts: $500 on July 28, 2025, and $300 on January 31, 2026. These funds came from a party committee rather than individual donors. Moxley also received money from the Political Action Committee for Education, which is separate from the Democratic payments.

Todd Achilles is challenging Republican Jim Risch for a U.S. Senate seat. Achilles served as a Democratic state legislator. The Democratic field changed when nominee David Roth withdrew in August. Roth told the Idaho Capital Sun he lacked party support. Some Democrats reportedly pressured him to leave the race to help Achilles. Roth did not officially endorse Achilles in his withdrawal statement.

An October 4 Bloomberg Opinion article described efforts by Democrats to back independent candidates in Republican-leaning states. The strategy aims to appeal to voters who might hesitate to support a candidate with the Democratic label. While organizations may support independents, that support does not automatically mean the candidate is acting on the party's behalf.

The four candidates have different backgrounds. Larson and Achilles have prior Democratic office bids or service. Johnson and Moxley have direct financial links to Democratic committees through recent contributions. These records show specific relationships without proving the candidates are acting on party orders. Voters can review these disclosures to determine how the candidates' current positions align with their past affiliations.