Risch Leads Achilles by 27 Points in Idaho Poll
A new survey shows incumbent Senator Jim Risch maintaining a significant lead over independent candidate Todd Achilles.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Elections
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Senator Jim Risch leads challenger Todd Achilles by 27 percentage points in a recent survey of Idaho voters. The poll finds Risch capturing 54 percent of the vote compared to 27 percent for Achilles.
Why it matters
The race follows a period of instability for the Idaho Democratic Party after their primary winner withdrew from the contest in July. The Ada County Democratic chair has noted that the party faces significant branding challenges in the state.
The Peak Insights poll surveyed 500 likely Idaho voters, finding 54 percent support for Risch and 27 percent for Achilles. Approximately 10 percent of the surveyed electorate remains undecided.
The players
Jim Risch
He is the incumbent Republican senator currently seeking re-election in Idaho.
Todd Achilles
He is a former Democrat state legislator who is now running as an independent candidate.
Peak Insights
This is the polling firm that conducted the survey of likely voters between October 13 and October 15.
The details
Todd Achilles, a former Democrat state legislator who changed his registration to independent, faces a steep climb as his party continues to struggle with local branding. This race occurs alongside similar independent campaign strategies observed recently in Montana and South Dakota.
Timeline
July 2026: The Idaho Democrat primary winner dropped out of the race.
October 13-15, 2026: Peak Insights conducted a survey of 500 likely voters.
November 2026: The midterm election is scheduled to occur.
Political Context
Opponents of the independent movement argue that such candidacies split the vote and offer no clear path to policy implementation. They emphasize that the exit of the initial Democratic nominee in July 2026 created a vacuum that has failed to coalesce around a viable alternative.
The poll indicates that voters are facing limited options following the withdrawal of major candidates earlier this year. Residents should prepare for the upcoming November election, where these margins will determine representation for the state.
The takeaway
Voters observing this race should monitor the final voting behavior of the 10 percent who remain undecided in the polls. As the election nears, these voters often decide the final margin in state-level contests.
What happens next
The midterm election will take place in early November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the current state of regional races, visit the Idaho Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Breitbart.
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