Sen. Jim Risch moved one step closer to securing a fourth term in the U.S. Senate after comfortably defeating two Republican challengers in Idaho’s GOP primary Tuesday evening.
Risch, 83, won the Republican primary shortly after polls closed, according to the Associated Press, reinforcing his strong position in one of the country’s most reliably Republican states.
The Idaho senator entered the race with the endorsement of President Donald Trump, whose support remains highly influential among Republican voters in the state. Trump has carried Idaho by wide margins in every presidential election in which he has appeared on the ballot since 2016, making his backing a major advantage in statewide GOP contests.
Risch’s primary victory shows that long-serving Republican incumbents can still avoid serious political danger when they maintain strong conservative credentials and receive Trump’s endorsement.
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First elected to the Senate in 2009, Risch has built a long political career in Idaho. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as the state’s governor and lieutenant governor, giving him decades of experience in both state and federal politics.
He currently serves as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress. The panel oversees major foreign policy issues, has jurisdiction over the State Department and plays a central role in reviewing ambassador nominations.
That position gives Risch influence over some of the most important international issues facing the United States, including China, Russia, Iran, Israel, NATO and broader national security policy.
The Idaho race is one of more than a dozen Republican-held Senate seats this year that are not considered highly competitive in the general election. Because Idaho remains solidly red, Risch is expected to enter the next stage of the campaign as the clear favorite.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pursuing a difficult path to regain control in November’s midterm elections. Democrats would need to flip multiple Republican-held seats to take back the chamber, a challenging task given the number of GOP seats considered safe.
Risch’s win also comes during a primary season shaped heavily by Trump’s influence over Republican voters and candidates. While some GOP incumbents have faced intense backlash from the party’s base, Risch’s victory suggests that establishment experience and Trump’s support can still form a powerful combination.
For Idaho Republicans, the result sets up a general election in which the party is expected to remain strongly favored.
Two-term Republican Senator Bill Cassidy lost his bid for re-election in Louisiana’s primary as Trump-backed challenger Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming advanced to a June runoff to choose the party’s nominee after a closely fought battle https://t.co/NYjgRfClJt pic.twitter.com/KQzXNz9dT2
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 17, 2026
