2026 Idaho HD 1A Primary: Sauter Beats Sauter
Published May 21, 2026 · Unofficial returns; official certification June 9, 2026
In the 2026 Republican primary for Idaho House District 1 Seat A, challenger Jane Sauter defeated incumbent Mark Sauter. The two candidates share a last name but are not related. District 1 covers Bonner and Boundary counties in northern Idaho.
Result
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Sauter | 8,081 | 53.88% |
| Mark Sauter (incumbent) | 7,041 | 46.12% |
Margin: 1,040 votes (7.76 points). Unofficial returns as of May 20, 2026; three Boundary County precincts had not fully reported at that point. Final certification scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Candidates
Jane Sauter
Cocolalla · Filed February 23, 2026 · Republican
No prior service in the Idaho Legislature.
Mark Sauter
Sandpoint · Filed February 26, 2026 · Republican
Served as District 1 Seat A representative in the 2025 and 2026 Idaho legislative sessions. Voting record at /legislators/mark-sauter.
What's next
Jane Sauter advances to the November 3, 2026 general election. The full District 1 candidate list and ongoing coverage is at /elections/2026-primary/districts/1. The 1,040-vote margin is wider than Idaho's state-funded recount threshold; see How Idaho election recounts work.