Idaho Democratic Senate nominee David Roth is withdrawing from the 2026 Senate race. Roth announced he would exit the contest to focus on broader party support and grassroots efforts across the state.

The 2026 United States Senate election in Idaho will be held on November 3, 2026. Republican incumbent Jim Risch is seeking a fourth term in the race. Former state representative Todd Achilles is challenging Risch in the election, running as an independent.

"After much consideration and many conversations with my family and my supporters, I have made the difficult decision to exit this race and focus where I think I can have a larger impact," Roth said in a statement. "I have concluded that I can make the greatest difference by focusing my time and energy on helping Democrats win up and down the ballot and in communities across Idaho," he wrote.

Roth is the first openly gay man to receive a federal nomination in Idaho. "I hope this campaign showed LGBTQ+ Idahoans, especially young people, that they belong in our politics, their voices matter, and no office should ever feel beyond their reach," he wrote.

"I have been proud to do that work as a volunteer, a candidate, a supporter of fellow Democrats, and Idaho’s Democratic National Committeeman," Roth wrote. He stated he will work with his team to meet remaining financial obligations and complete the formal withdrawal process.

The political landscape in Idaho presents challenges for Democratic candidates. Donald Trump won Idaho by more than 35 points in the 2024 presidential election. A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate race in Idaho since Frank Church in 1974.

CQ Roll Call elections analyst Nathan L. Gonzales of Inside Elections said in an email that strategic adjustments are necessary in certain regions. Sober Democrats understand that some places are so red — and the national Democratic brand is so damaged — that they need to get creative in order to win races, Gonzales said. "In places where a combination of Democratic voters and independents is not enough to win, Democrats need a way to get disaffected Republicans."

"But even if some Republicans are disgruntled, voting for a Democrat is still a bridge too far," he said. "There are some risks with not supporting a traditional nominee who would vote the party line." Similar dynamics are playing out in other states. Pastor Adam Hamilton considered running for Senate as an independent in Kansas but opted to run as a candidate on the Democratic ticket. Hamilton is one of nearly a dozen Democrats competing in the August 4 primary to take on Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas.