The first reports of independent expenditures for Idaho’s 2026 election cycle trickled into the state’s campaign finance portal last week — but the filings probably don’t tell the whole story of outside spending.

There are several complications in tracking spending from political action committees, particularly if they are registered out of state. Here’s what we know so far.

Two groups reported independent expenditures last week. The PAC For Public Lands last Monday reported $784 to support Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, and $1,708 to support Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon.

On Friday the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee reported $6,000 in independent expenditures to support 25 candidates for the Idaho Legislature, statewide offices and a few local races. Here are some of the candidates the committee supports:

• For governor: Mark Fitzpatrick
• Senate candidates: former Sen. Scott Herndon and incumbents Phil Hart, Doug Okuniewicz, Ben Toews, and Carl Bjerke
• House candidates: challenger Jane Sauter and incumbents Cornel Rasor, Heather Scott, Dale Hawkins, Vito Barbieri, Jordan Redman, Joe Alfieri, Elaine Price, Ron Mendive and Tony Wisniewski

Both of these in-state groups filed their reports the day after making the expenditures, but some groups wait until the last minute to file their reports.

Complications

A spokesman for the Idaho secretary of state’s office told EdNews there are complications in tracking PAC spending.

Some independent expenditures come from national PACs that are registered with the Federal Election Commission. Those groups do not have to file monthly reports in Idaho, but still have to report their independent expenditures as laid out in Idaho law (below).

For in-state PACs, some of their independent expenditures might appear in their monthly filings but not show up in “independent expenditure” searches in Idaho Sunshine.

The “final complication” is that some PACs record independent expenditures as regular expenditures, so they are “harder to spot,” according to the secretary of state’s office.

What does the law say?

Idaho statutes require anyone who makes an independent expenditure of more than $100 to file a statement with the secretary of state “not less than seven days prior” to the election and 30 days after the election.

If those independent expenditures are in an aggregate amount of $1,000 or more and made “after the 16th day before, but more than 48 hours before” an election, they must be reported within 48 hours of the time of the expenditure.

A case study

Looking through 2024 independent expenditure reports from Make Liberty Win, a Virginia-based national PAC associated with the libertarian Young Americans for Liberty, reveals that the group expertly filed their reports during the 2024 election cycle to get in right under the deadline.

Make Liberty Win in 2024 spent $705,000 in Idaho in 864 separate independent expenditures, according to Idaho Sunshine data. Republican leadership, including Speaker of the House Mike Moyle and Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, sat at the top of the group’s hit list.

Between March 29 and April 30, the group spent $400,604 in Idaho but did not report those independent expenditures until May 14, seven days before the election — just as the law requires.

And then in the period “after the 16th day before, but more than 48 hours before” the primary election — which in 2024 was between May 5 and 19 — the PAC filed its reports within two days of making expenditures. For example, the PAC on May 15 spent $62,695 and reported it two days later on May 17.

As Make Liberty Win is a national PAC, it has to report fundraising and expenses to the FEC. But the FEC reports don’t shed much light on which candidates the PAC supports in Idaho. All of its spending in Idaho passes through various companies in other states, such as CampaignHQ in Iowa, Propellant Media in Georgia or WAB Holdings LLC in Ohio.

If 2024 is any guide, Make Liberty Win could be making independent expenditures now, but we won’t know how much the out-of-state PAC is spending until a week before voters hit the ballot box.

NAMPA, Idaho — The Nampa Mayor’s Teen Council planted eight pear trees at West Park to honor the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam, who died from a cardiac emergency during a public town hall meeting earlier this month.

The tree planting is part of the city’s Memorial Tree and Bench Program. One of the trees will include a plaque that recognizes Hogaboam and his love for the city’s parks.

Watch: Teen council honoring Mayor Rick Hogaboam

Trees planted for late Nampa mayor

“We decided— what better way to honor Mayor Hogaboam [than] to plant some trees and honor him,” City of Nampa Forester Adam Mancini said.

The Nampa Mayor’s Teen Council works side by side with city leaders, and this season’s group was very close to Hogaboam.

“It’s a great opportunity for our younger generation to learn about the leadership within the community and work side by side with the mayor and the leaders in our community. And with this, this season’s Mayor Teen Council— they were very close to Mayor Hogaboam,” Mancini said.

The Memorial Tree and Bench Program allows community members to remember loved ones. For $1,250, participants receive a tree and a granite memorial plaque.

“That allows you to pick a location that maybe was special to that person and allow you to go back and visit them and honor them in a location that you enjoyed great memories [together],” Mancini said.

Idaho News 6

Mancini feels the program carries even deeper meaning now as the community continues to grieve the sudden loss.

“Planting a tree is a sign of life and rejuvenation and growth, and I feel like these trees can be dedicated to Mayor Hogaboam, and show that. We’re moving forward, we’re growing, and we can honor him in the same [way] as they grow and they live, and they thrive,” Mancini said.

The city will gather Tuesday night for a memorial service honoring Hogaboam. The service will take place at 5 p.m. at the Ford Idaho Center and will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend.

Idaho News

If you are planning to attend Mayor Hogaboam’s memorial, service details are below.

The memorial service honoring the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Ford Idaho Center. Doors will open at 4 p.m.

The general public and media are invited to attend and are asked to park in the west parking lot, nearest to the Idaho Center Boulevard, and use “Entry 1”.

Family members, close friends, colleagues, and dignitaries are asked to enter from Franklin Boulevard, park in the south parking lot, and use “Entry 5”.

There will be a security screening, and weapons will not be allowed. Guests are encouraged to limit personal items to expedite security screening time.

Idaho News 6

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The following is a news release from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

REXBURG — Elder José A. Teixeira, general authority seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will address 3,989 graduates at Brigham Young University-Idaho’s 2026 Winter Semester Commencement on Friday, April 10, 2026. The event will be held at 12:45 p.m. in the BYU-Idaho Center and streamed live at byui.edu/live/video.

The university will award 2,313 bachelor’s degrees and 1,676 associate degrees. Campus-based students make up 2,097 of this semester’s graduates, while 1,892 of the graduates are online students.

Elder Teixeira was sustained as a general authority seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. He is currently serving as the area president of the United States Central Area. Prior to this assignment, he served in the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Teixeira has also served as the president of the Europe Area and the South America South Area.

Elder Teixeira has served in a number of church callings, including full-time missionary in the Portugal Lisbon Mission, elders quorum president, district president, counselor in a bishopric, national public affairs director, stake president, area seventy and mission president in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission.

Elder Teixeira’s education is in finance, accounting, auditing and business management. He was an international controller for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with responsibility for Europe and Africa.

José Augusto Teixeira da Silva was born in Vila Real, Portugal, on Feb. 24, 1961. He married Filomena Teles Grilo in June 1984. They are the parents of three children.

No tickets are needed to attend commencement. Graduates, parents and guests can find more information about the 2026 Winter Semester graduation events at byui.edu/graduation/.