GOP NOMINEE (PRESUMPTIVE), Won May 19 primary 53.55% | Raised: $104.7K | IFF #1 Senator (96.2%) | IFC State Director
GENERAL-ELECTION LONGSHOT, Faces Herndon Nov 3 | No finance filings | Retired educator | Functionally Democratic
DEFEATED IN PRIMARY, Lost May 19 primary 46.45% | Raised: $135.2K | JFAC Vice Chair | Navy Commander (ret.)
The fourth Woodward-Herndon matchup is resolved: Scott Herndon defeated incumbent Jim Woodward 53.55%–46.45% (8,155–7,075 of 15,230 votes, margin 1,080) in the May 19, 2026 Republican primary, official Idaho SOS results as of 2026-06-09, final certification pending. The race was a proxy war between the Idaho Freedom Foundation/Caucus (backing Herndon) and the traditional Republican establishment/business community (backing Woodward via IACI); both moderate District 1 incumbents lost on May 19 (Rep. Mark Sauter also lost his 1A primary). Spokane Public Radio reported Woodward ($135.2K raised) and Herndon ($104.7K raised) brought in the most contributions of any Idaho Senate candidates (Idaho Sunshine figures as of 2026-06-10). The Republican primary winner is the de facto general election winner in this R+40 district: Herndon enters the November 3 general against Steve Johnson (I), functionally a Democratic candidate with no viable path, as the heavy favorite.
| Candidate | Party | IFF Score | ICAP Score | Faction | Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Herndon | R | 96.2% | 36% | IFF / Freedom Caucus | $104,707.54 |
| Jim Woodward | R | 51.6% | 86% | Establishment / IACI | $135,246.37 |
| Steve Johnson | I | N/A | N/A | Democratic-aligned | $0 |
Source: Idaho Sunshine / ID SOS, as of 2026-06-10. IFF = Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index (lifetime). ICAP = Idaho Children Are Primary.
| Year | Winner | Margin | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Woodward (R) | 52% | Open seat; succeeded Shawn Keough |
| 2022 | Herndon (R) | 56–44% | Herndon defeated incumbent Woodward |
| 2024 | Woodward (R) | 52–48% (613 votes) | Woodward recaptured seat |
| 2026 primary | Herndon (R) | 53.55–46.45% (1,080 votes) | Fourth matchup; official SOS results, certification pending. General Nov 3: Herndon vs Johnson (I) |