Mike Pohanka

Republican | Idaho

Candidate Profile

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Mike Pohanka


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Primary


Race

State Rep., Dist. 26A


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Mike Pohanka websites FacebookFacebook

EDUCATION

College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, Associate of Art, 1987-1991

Lewis Clark State College, Lewiston, Bachelor of Science, 1988-1991

City University, Seattle, Master of Art, 1993-1996

WORK & MILITARY

Idaho Power, Industrial Account Representative, 1986-2017

College of Southern Idaho, Instructor-Economics, 1999-2017

College of Southern Idaho, Associate Professor, 2017-2022

AFFILIATIONS

Jerome Presbyterian Church, Deacon/Elder, 1989-1995

Jerome Boosters, President, 2009-2010

Jerome Chamber of Commerce, Board Member and President, 2001-2006

Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce, Board Member and Chair, 2007-2010

Jerome Rotary Club, Past President and Member, 1999-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Idaho State Representative-District 26-A, 2024-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Idaho State Representative-District 26-A

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Charles Howell/Ben Crouch/Art Watkins

Rebecca Wood/Tim Ridinger/Nathan Schutte

Steve England

Anthony Gratzer/Dennis Clark

David Orr/Blaine Campbell

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)

Scott Bedke (2026)

Brad Little (2025)

Bruce Skaug (2025)

Laurie Lickley (2024)

Mike Moyle (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (20)

State Republican Party Organizations (2026)

Clay Handy (2025)

Laurie Lickley (2025)

Bruce Skaug (2024)

Camille Blaylock (2024)


OTHER INFORMATION

This year, Rep. Pohanka voted against repealing Idaho's Blaine Amendment, which would have provided more religious liberty in Idaho (HJR 7).

Candidate voted against HJM 17, which called on the US Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell decision.

Idaho Immigration Watch Scorecard

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

Preservation of life is of utmost importance.

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Rape/Incest/Health of the mother.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Neutral

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Agree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Agree


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

It means the government and religion should stay independent of each other.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Disagree

We need to keep the separation between church and state. I feel this would infringe on an individual's personal rights.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

The Chinese Communist Part poses major, multifaceted threats to global security and economic stability. This is characterized by intellectual property theft, cyber security, cyber espionage, military expansion and coercive economic practices.

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes, because the United States and Isreal is crucial due to a combination of shared democratic values, deep economic and cultural ties, and strategic interests in the volatile Middle East.


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Disagree


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

Our current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. However, the majority of Idaho's businesses start their employees at a higher wage.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Agree

Less government intervention/regulation of businesses the better off they are.

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1) Agency Efficiencies- Right Sizing 2) Regulatory Streamlining-Cutting Red Tape 3) Healthcare Savings-Focus on reducing costs of prescription medications.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Disagree

Public safety is one of my priorities. We need to remove undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and which can endanger our local communities.


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

The goal of the criminal justice system is to maintain public safety, uphold the law. deliver justice and rehabilitate offenders to reintegrate them back into society.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law is fundamentally incompatible with the United States Constitution and American legal principles. particularly regarding civil liberties and the separation between church and state.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I am a strong proponent of the 2nd Amendment. I will protect the individual right of people to keep and bear arms.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Conservative

I am what you call a Ronald Reagan conservative. And that is limited government, individual freedom and fiscal responsibility.

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Strongly Agree

The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education and care of their children is a fundamental right.

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Agree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Neutral

My religious upbringing defines it that way. However, some traditions define marriage that way, but I still see relationship as real serious and worthy of respect.

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Neutral

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe in my Heavenly Father and Savior.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

If you have to show your I.D. to board a plane you should have to show your I.D. to vote.


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

I feel that Small Modular Reactors will be the future to meet our demand of electrical loads.

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