Idaho Falls Firefighter Challenges Incumbent House Education Committee Member in District 33 Republican Primary
An Idaho Falls firefighter and paramedic is taking on a four-term Republican incumbent in the District 33 House Seat A race ahead of the May 19 primary election in Idaho, setting up one of the more competitive legislative contests in the Bonneville County area this cycle.
Republican Connor Cook, a 10-year veteran of emergency services and union member, is challenging Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, who is seeking a fifth term in the Idaho House. Ehardt serves on the House Education Committee and has been a prominent voice on social policy legislation during her tenure in the Statehouse.
A Challenger From the Trades
Cook, a self-described political newcomer, says he would bring a blue-collar perspective to the Idaho Legislature. He has argued that Ehardt has grown out of touch with the people she represents.
“He said he thinks Ehardt has stopped listening to her constituents,” according to reporting from Idaho Education News, which profiled the race as part of its 2026 primary election candidate series. Cook said he would apply common sense to state governance — the kind of practical outlook he says comes from years working as a paramedic and firefighter on the ground with everyday Idahoans.
Cook has also raised concerns about what he describes as an increasingly authoritarian direction at the Idaho Statehouse. He pointed specifically to legislation restricting which bathrooms transgender individuals may use — which he characterized as among the toughest restrictions in the nation — and argued that such measures distract legislators from the core work of managing the state budget responsibly.
Ehardt’s Record and Backing
Ehardt, who manages an athletic club, was first elected to the Idaho House in 2018. She has faced a Republican primary challenger just once before — in 2022, when she defeated Jeff Thompson with 57% of the vote. She ran unopposed in the Republican primary in 2024.
The incumbent is well known for her legislative work on social issues, particularly her sponsorship of what has been described as the nation’s first law prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports. Ehardt has defended such measures, telling Idaho Education News that the transgender community, not the Idaho Legislature, initiated what she called the culture war.
Outside money has entered the race this cycle. The Citizens Alliance of Idaho PAC — a group with out-of-state backers that supports school choice — recently reported $25,165 in spending to support Ehardt. In direct fundraising, Ehardt has raised $13,792 compared to Cook’s $11,075. However, Ehardt carries a significant financial advantage in the form of a $24,657 war chest accumulated from prior election cycles, giving her a substantial head start in campaign resources.
The involvement of out-of-state money and a school choice-aligned PAC adds another dimension to the race, raising questions for voters about outside influence in Idaho’s local legislative contests — a concern that resonates across the political spectrum in a state that values local authority and self-governance. For more on how Idaho communities are asserting local control on various policy fronts, see coverage at Idaho News.
Ehardt’s campaign website is listed as standupidaho.org. Cook’s campaign has not been associated with a specific website in available reporting.
The race is one of several competitive Idaho legislative contests this primary season with direct implications for education policy. Idaho Education News, which is tracking races statewide, has highlighted District 33 as a contest worth watching given the incumbent’s committee role and the first serious primary challenge she has faced in years.
Idaho voters heading to the polls May 19 should verify their registration and polling information in advance. For broader statewide coverage of Idaho’s 2026 primary elections and legislative races, visit idahonews.co or the Idaho News Network for local policy developments.
What Comes Next
The May 19 Republican primary will determine which candidate advances to the general election in November. Because District 33 is a heavily Republican district, the primary outcome is widely considered the decisive contest for House Seat A. Voters in the Idaho Falls area should watch for additional campaign activity, fundraising disclosures, and candidate forums in the weeks ahead as both Cook and Ehardt make their final pitches to Republican primary voters.