SCOTT HERNDON FOR IDAHO SENATE. A PROVEN CONSERVATIVE. MAY 19th IS THE ELECTION.

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A Vote for Scott Herndon is a Vote FOR...

Here are Scott’s Top Policy Priorities:

1. END ALL PROPERTY TAXES.

While other candidates talk about how government needs your income, sales and property taxes, Scott Herndon knows from his time on the Finance committee in the Idaho senate that property taxes can be absolutely abolished so that you can finally enjoy your own home and property without the threat of government seizing it one day because you failed to pay your local tax. It is possible to eliminate all property taxes in Idaho without raising any other taxes.

2. PROTECT INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS, REDUCE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

There is more work to do protecting the 2nd amendment in Idaho and reducing the number of laws and codes that control every area of our lives. Scott also wants to pass his constitutional amendment respecting your right to educate your own children free from government regulation.

3. STOP GROWING THE NATIONAL DEBT AND CONTROL INFLATION.

The state of Idaho spends more money than it should, much of it is provided by the $37 trillion, and growing, national debt. This debt leads to massive inflation and unaffordability of everything – housing, gas, food. Just look at the prices of homes and rent in North Idaho! We must reduce this nation’s debt, control state government’s spending and practice a conservative monetary policy so that the value of a dollar is not continually decimated by inflation.

4. MAKE IDAHO HEALTHY AGAIN.

6 in 10 Americans suffer from chronic disease. Scott Herndon supports healthy air and water and will fight to protect medical freedom and health education for all Idahoans.

5. MAKE IDAHO SMART AGAIN.

Scott will support policies that make Idaho’s public schools better (they still only have math and reading proficiencies in the 30 percentile range) while also fighting to support education freedom and choice.

6. PROTECT OUR ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS.

In Scott’s first senate term, he was a champion for our right to access public waters and lands. That fight is ongoing as developers, federal land managers and others seek to restrict our access to Idaho’s vast treasure of public lands and waters.

7. PROTECT IDAHO FROM THE HARMS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

Idaho has an illegal immigration problem. It directly impacts jobs, wages and the cost of government services in Idaho, like schools and medical care. Illegal immigrants need to go. Those who follow our immigration laws are always welcome.

8. FIX THE ROADS.

Scott Herndon moved to Sandpoint in 2004. There were a little more than half the number of people living here then. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people visit North Idaho. Yet, Bonner and Boundary county’s major roads and bridges have changed little in 20 years. Projected traffic growth is phenomenal over the next 20 years. We must develop the safety and efficiency of our highways. Your safety and your prosperity absolutely depend on it.

Scott Herndon's Senate Record

Scott Herndon doesn’t just have goals. He has a proven record of success in the Idaho senate fighting for Idahoans.

1. REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES.

On your property tax bill this year, you will see credits for House Bills 292 and 521. Scott Herndon supported those bills that delivered hundreds of millions in property tax relief. In fact, the governor vetoed H292, but Scott helped encourage the override of the governor’s veto. Scott will not stop until 100% of property taxation is eliminated in Idaho.

2. SUPPORTED TAX CUTS.

Scott co-sponsored and supported bills that reduced income taxes by tens of millions a year and specialty tobacco and other unfair taxes. These tax cuts encouraged more investment in Idaho and resulted in outstanding business growth.

3. HELPED CHANGE THE WAY IDAHO SPENDS YOUR TAX MONEY.

Scott Herndon helped pass major reforms to how Idaho builds its state budget. Before the changes, the legislature only reviewed less than 20% of spending each year, while approving 100% of the budget. Now, the legislature reviews a much larger portion of the spending, and Scott Herndon helped cut wasteful government spending, saving $200 million in 2024 alone. DOGE!

4. PROTECTED THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

Anti-2A activists found a way to restrict guns from public property through private leases. Scott Herndon sponsored and passed senate bill 1374 to take away their ability to ban guns from public property. It passed, but there is still more work to do to protect your right to protect your families.

5. STOPPED THE TRANSGENDER NONSENSE.

Scott Herndon co-sponsored a new law for schools to keep boys and girls in their own locker rooms and bathrooms. It passed. He also sponsored and passed a bill that stopped requiring public works contractors to accommodate men in women’s locker rooms at large companies. That was a result of bad Obama and Biden era policies, but Idaho is now free from the nonsense.

6. PROTECTED CHILDREN FROM OBSCENITY AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ONLINE.

In modern America, pornography is widely available to children at our government-run public libraries. Scott Herndon helped put in place a law in Idaho that can be used to stop that. Also, online porn is through the roof, and it is widely available to kids. Scott Herndon helped write a bill that passed and has caused online pornographers, like Pornhub, to verify the ages of users. these porn suppliers can now only distribute pornography to those over 18.

7. REGAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS.

Access to public waters and lands are being lost to developers and to practices of federal land managers. Scott Herndon sponsored a bill that passed the senate and will preserve existing access roads to public lands and waters. The bill was blocked in the House, and there is more work to do. Send Scott Herndon back to the legislature to fight for this important bill!

Scott Herndon also:

Supported hundreds of $millions in infrastructure for roads and bridges.
Helped to defund DEI in Idaho’s universities.
Passed bills that improved election integrity.
Stopped illegal immigrants from getting Idaho driver licenses.
Is trying to pass a constitutional amendment to protect homeschool and private school freedom from unwarranted government regulation.
Helped stop government mandated vaccines and increased disclosures of Idaho’s vaccine exemptions.
Helped improve public education and supported school choice.

For more details on Scott’s senate record, click the button below!

Scott Herndon's Senate Record

Herndon vs. Woodward — The Record

HERNDON vs. WOODWARD — THE RECORD
SCOTT HERNDON	JIM WOODWARD
IFF Freedom Score: 96.2% CPAC: 100% Inst. for Legislative Analysis: 97.9% Champion of Limited Government	IFF Freedom Score: 52.0% — Grade F Lifetime Spending Score: 6.8% — Grade F CPAC: 84%
PROPERTY TAXES
Herndon voted for HB 292 — $317.4 million in property tax relief. Governor vetoed it. Herndon voted to override the veto, 28-7. It is now law. Running to eliminate all property taxes in Idaho. [HB 292, 2023]	Woodward sits on the Senate Finance Committee as Vice Chair. Has had every institutional tool to deliver property tax reform. Has not delivered meaningful property tax relief. Opposes eliminating the grocery sales tax. Prefers a $150 credit — a half-measure.
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Herndon served on Senate Finance Committee and used that seat to cut $200 million from the state budget. Supports line-by-line budget review and separate votes on new spending. [Budget Reform, 2024]	Woodward -- IFF Lifetime Spending Score: 6.8% — the worst in the Republican caucus. Called the conservative budget reform process a “scheme.” Used his Vice Chair position on the Finance Committee to resist the new line-item budget process that would have given legislators greater oversight of spending. [Senate Finance Committee vote, Feb. 2026; Idaho Capital Sun, 2025]
INCOME TAX CUTS
Herndon -- Consistent votes in favor of income tax reduction. Supported every income tax cut brought before the Senate. Voted for Idaho’s $50 million flat tax rate reduction. [HB 521, 2023]	Woodward voted NO on HB 40 — a $253 million income tax cut that included exemptions for military veteran pensions, disabled veterans, and bullion capital gains. Passed 27-8. Woodward was one of only 8 senators to oppose it. [HB 40, 2025]
FEE & TAX INCREASES
Herndon opposes tax and fee increases on Idaho farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. Consistent votes against growing the cost of doing business in Idaho.	Woodward voted YES on four fee and tax increases in 2025 alone: quadrupled the clover/alfalfa seed levy (HB 173), tripled livestock dealer license fees (SB 1016), raised attorney bar fees (SB 1030), and increased the tax on bean growers (SB 1054). [HB 173, SB 1016, SB 1030, SB 1054 — 2025]
GUNS & 2ND AMENDMENT
Herndon was the floor sponsor of SB 1374 — concealed carry on public property. Passed Senate 28-7, House 58-10. Signed into law. Filed Herndon v. Sandpoint — sued the City of Sandpoint over a firearms ban at public events, at personal expense. Supported HB 295 — banned credit card companies from tracking firearm purchases. 100% CPAC score. [SB 1374, 2024; Herndon v. Sandpoint; HB 295, 2023]	Woodward publicly opposed HB 376 at town halls in 2025 — a bill to restore full gun rights on all public property. In a district where federal overreach and gun rights are the same issue, opposing gun rights restoration is a problem. [HB 376, 2025]
PUBLIC LANDS ACCESS
Herndon authored SB 1258, requiring equivalent replacement public access before vacating any right-of-way to public land or water. Passed the Senate 33-2 but was blocked in a House committee by a lobbyist. Authored SB 1021 — stopped the Priest Lake Siphon project. Signed into law. [SB 1258, 2024; SB 1021, 2023]	Woodward voted YES on SB 1086, which would have made it a crime for Idaho residents to violate federal recreational use restrictions on public land. Penalties could escalate to a felony. No willfulness requirement — meaning an unintentional failure to follow a posted sign could result in criminal charges. [SB 1086, 2025]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Herndon sponsored SB 1216, prohibiting illegal aliens from obtaining Idaho driver’s licenses. Voted to ban foreign entities connected to the Chinese government from purchasing Idaho agricultural land. Supports full enforcement of federal immigration law. [SB 1216, 2024; HB 173, 2023]	Voted YES on SCR 107 — driving privileges for residents “whose presence is not in accord with federal immigration law.” Woodward received $2,600 from Idaho Dairy Industry PAC. The Idaho Dairy Association has admitted to the legislature that 75%+ of their employees are illegal aliens. [SCR 107, 2021; FEC/Idaho SOS records, Idaho legislative records]
PRO-LIFE & FAMILY VALUES
Herndon is 100% pro-life. Endorsed by Idaho Chooses Life (2024). Co-authored HB 752 with Rep. Cornel Rasor — criminalizes men entering women’s bathrooms and locker rooms. First law of its kind in the nation. Co-sponsored SB 1100 — biological sex separation in school facilities. Supported the Vulnerable Child Protection Act (HB 71) — criminalized “transgender” surgeries and drugs on children. [HB 752, 2026; SB 1100, 2023; HB 71, 2023]	Woodward sponsored SB 1184, described as loosening Idaho’s abortion ban. Supported by a group running a ballot initiative to legalize abortion through fetal viability. Opposed by Idaho Chooses Life. Voted against the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (HB 500, 2020) — one of only five Republicans to do so. Voted YES on SB 1199, redefining minors to exclude pregnant girls from parental consent requirements. [SB 1184, 2025; HB 500, 2020; SB 1199, 2025]
EDUCATION & SCHOOL CHOICE
Herndon passed charter school expansion (SB 1042/1043). Passed open enrollment — any student, any school (SB 1125). Passed school bathroom protections (SB 1100). Passed CPS reform protecting families from false reports (HB 66) and immunization-based investigations (SB 1029). Proposes a constitutional amendment to protect homeschool and private school freedom. [SB 1042/1043, SB 1125, SB 1100, HB 66, SB 1029 — 2023]	Woodward voted NO on HB 93, a $50 million parental choice tax credit ($5,000/student) for homeschool and private school families. Voted NO on SB 1198, banning DEI offices and coursework at Idaho universities — placed in the Democratic minority on a 23-12 vote. In 2022, voted to fund $3.8 million for DEI staff positions at Boise State and the University of Idaho. Helped kill parental opt-in protections for aggressive sex education three years running. [HB 93, 2/19/25; SB 1198, 4/3/25; HB 249, 2021]
HEALTH FREEDOM & EMERGENCIES
Herndon supported SB 1130 in 2023 to ban mandatory Covid vaccinations. Passed with every Senate Republican supporting it. Signed into law. When Idaho’s governor criminalized church attendance during the pandemic, Scott Herndon sued in federal court — and the governor backed down. [SB 1130, 2023; Herndon v. Little, federal court]	Woodward opposed S1381 in 2022, which would have protected Idahoans from mandatory Covid vaccinations. Over 80% of Republicans voted in favor — Woodward voted with the Democrats against it. On H135, voted with 22 Democrats against the right to work during Covid when 77 Republicans voted in favor. Known as one of the “Flip-Flop Five” for changing his vote to sustain the governor’s veto on emergency powers reform. [S1381, 2022; H135, 2021; SB 1136, 2021]
DEMOCRATIC PARTY DONATIONS
Herndon -- No donations to Democrats and not funded by Democrats. 91% individual donors from Idaho, 94.5% in-state donors.	Woodward has received maximum personal donations of $3,000 from Tom and Jacinda Bokowy and their company, $1,000 in donations from Debra Dawson, $2,000 from Quantum Concepts, a company controlled by Diana Dawson, $1,000 from Karen Pence, $1,000 from Laura Baker. All of these donors (and other donors to Woodward) have documented, regular donations on FEC.gov to Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and other national Democrats or PACs like Stop Republicans. [Idaho SOS campaign finance records; FEC records]
Republican Primary: May 19, 2026 • Polls Open 8 AM – 8 PM HerndonForIdaho.com • (208) 610-2680 Paid for by Scott Herndon for Idaho Senate, Paul Herndon, treasurer

Herndon v. Woodward Record -- Printable format

Meet Scott

Scott Herndon was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1967. His family lineage in America dates to 1673, when William Herndon came from Kent, England to the Virginia Colony and settled in New Kent County, Virginia. He attended Missouri Military Academy, where discipline and duty were forged into his character. He earned a B.S. in Finance from Arizona State University and built a career in finance and computer programming before teaching himself custom homebuilding — the trade he has practiced for two decades in Bonner County.

Scott and his wife Arlene moved to Sagle, Idaho in 2004 — more than 22years ago. They were drawn to the same things that draw every conservative to north Idaho: the mountains, the freedom, the community, the values. Together they have raised eight children on their family farm, where they keep milk cows, chickens, and pigs. Their five daughters still live on the farm, and they perform music at the Sandpoint Farmer’s Market, the Bonner County Fair, and the Bonners Ferry Community Orchestra.

Before running for office, Scott served five years as a Bonner County Jail Chaplain — ministering to the people most of society forgets. He served as Chairman of the Bonner County Republican Party. His Christian faith is not a talking point; it is the foundation of everything he does.

Scott was elected to the Idaho Senate in 2022 and immediately became the #1 rated conservative in the entire Idaho Legislature according to the Idaho Freedom Foundation. He served on the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Finance Committee (JFAC). He sponsored or co-sponsored legislation protecting gun rights, parental rights, medical freedom, and property tax relief. He authored Idaho’s Distributed Ledger Technology Act, nearly making Idaho one of the most crypto-friendly states in America — losing by just one vote in the Senate in 2024.

In 2024, the establishment spent heavily to take Scott’s seat back. He lost by just 613 votes — less than 4%. Now he is back. Because the fight for lower taxes, smaller government, and constitutional liberty is not something you walk away from.

Senator Scott Herndon in the News

Defending the National Guard and Defeating Monsanto

Sernator Herndon supports legislation to prohibit the deployment of the Idaho National Guard into combat for the United States without a declaration of war by the United States Congress. Also, Bayer/Monsanto wants to deny Idahoans’ ability to sue for harm caused by Round-Up; Senator Herndon leads the charge to fight for the right of citizens to go toe to toe with Big Corporations in court.

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Bill to protect public land, water access clears Senate panel

If a public right-of-way provides access to state lands or waters, Senate Bill 1258 would require counties and highway districts to obtain equivalent replacement access for the public before deciding to vacate it. “Before abandonment, we are asking our local governments to provide a replacement,” bill sponsor Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, explained to the Senate Transportation Committee.

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Senate passes bill to shorten library district trustee terms

On Tuesday, the Idaho Senate passed SB 1235 from Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, that would cut Idaho’s library trustee terms from six years down to four. The bill would keep the elections on odd years and all trustees elected in 2023 would keep their terms, but it would shift the board’s to a staggered schedule of shorter terms. It would not impact trustees for city library systems, which are appointed by mayors.

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Constitutional amendment proposed to confirm right to privately educate children, 'free from government regulation'

Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, proposed a resolution that would ask voters to change the “compulsory attendance at schools” section of the Idaho constitution to say that custodial parents or guardians of any child, “shall have the fundamental right to privately home educate such child or to cause such child to be privately educated.” It would also add that those who privately educate or homeschool their children, “shall be free from government regulation of such education.”

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Idaho Gov. Brad Little says JFAC’s budget changes could have unintended consequences

In an interview Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol, Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, said he joins many of his constituents and fellow Freedom Caucus members in the Idaho Legislature in supporting JFAC’s changes. Citing a presentation from Legislative Services Office budget and policy division manager Keith Bybee, Herndon told the Sun that JFAC only used to analyze about 19% of state spending. Meanwhile, Herndon said government spending grew by 54% between 2020 and 2024.

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