An incumbent Democratic state legislator running for re-election in a swing district in Boise has raised the most money of any legislative candidate in 2026, Idaho campaign finance reports show.

As of Thursday afternoon, Rep. Steve Berch, D-Boise, has raised $168,287 during the 2026 election year, according to Sunshine, the online campaign finance database run by the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.

Berch has raised more than $68,000 more than the legislative candidate who has raised the next-highest amount of money in campaign finance contributions in 2026, Rep. John Shirts, R-Weiser.

In an interview Thursday, Berch attributed his success to engaging directly with constituents and campaigning face-to-face.

“When you’ve knocked on 42,000 doors, when you send out very detailed newsletters that explain the reasons why you vote on bills, when you hold three in-person town hall meetings every year, people appreciate that,” Berch said. “And I’m very honored and I’m very humbled by it, and it just kind of motivates me to continue doing that and really being the role of a public servant.”

Idaho Democrats hope to hold seat, and perhaps gain a seat in swing District 15

Berch, who is in his fourth term in the Idaho Legislature, is the only Democrat on the top 10 list of Idaho legislative candidates who have raised the most campaign money in 2026. The other nine are all Republicans.

Berch is running unopposed in this month’s Democratic primary election, so the money will be directed toward the general election fight in west Boise’s ultra competitive swing district, Legislative District 15 in November.

For the past two years, Berch has been the only Democrat representing District 15 — the other two legislators are Republicans. Two years ago, Republicans added to their supermajority in the Idaho Legislature by defeating a Democratic incumbent and gaining a seat in District 15.

Berch and the Democrats will look to hold the line in District 15 this year and potentially look to gain a seat there after incumbent Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Boise, withdrew her re-election bid. Meanwhile, Republicans will look to defeat Berch, completely take the district over and increase their supermajority in the Idaho Legislature again.

However, all of that will have to wait for November.

Berch and Republican challenger Steve Keyser of Boise will oppose each other in November’s general election.

State campaign finance reports show that Keyser has raised $6,558 in campaign contributions this year.

What other Idaho legislative candidates have raised a lot of campaign money?

All nine of the remaining top 10 legislative candidates who have raised the most campaign money in 2026 are Republicans — including seven incumbents and two challengers.

Two of those candidates, incumbent Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, and former Sen. Scott Herndon, also R-Sagle, are squaring off against each other in this month’s Republican primary election for the Idaho Senate in Legislative District 1.

Woodward reported raising $96,100 so far in 2026, while Herndon has reported raising $85,135 as of Thursday.

This is the fourth time that Woodward and Herndon have run against each other for a seat in the Idaho Legislature. Woodward defeated Herndon in the 2018 and 2024 GOP primaries, while Herndon was victorious in the 2022 primary election.

Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, appears at the No. 4 spot on the list of top 10 legislative candidates, having reported raising $85,245 in 2026.

The two highest ranking Republican legislators — Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, $75,022; and House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, $68,999 — also appear on the top 10 list, although neither has a primary election opponent.

Republican Idaho Senate challenger Brent D. Reinke of Twin Falls appears on the list at No. 8, having raised $72,745. Reinke is challenging incumbent Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls, in this month’s Republican primary election for the Idaho Senate in District 24.

Zuiderveld reported raising $56,732 in 2026 — just outside the top 10 at No. 17.

While he did not make the list of legislators who raised the most money for their campaigns, Rep. Jordan Redman, R- Post Falls, made one of the largest individual contributions in 2026. On April 28, Redman gave $250,000 to the 36-18-1 Inc. Political Action Committee, which Idaho Education News reported first.

Redman’s $250,000 contribution is the largest contribution any state legislator or candidate has made to a PAC in 2026, state campaign finance records show.

Campaign finance reports indicate that Redman’s father, former state Rep. Eric Redman, signed the timed contribution report on behalf of the 36-18-1 Inc. PAC.