Joe A Palmer
Idaho State Representative, District 20 since 2008. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 18 yrs
- Since 2008
- Votes missed
- 5.8%
- Chamber median 1.8%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- −0.2
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Transportation and Defense · chair
- Business
- Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment
- State Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Voting record
Where Palmer sits in the Idaho House of Representatives
Palmer is closer to the center than 44% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Jason Monks, Judy Boyle,
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:49 PM ET
With Palmer’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans94%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Idaho House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Palmer’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Palmer | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | S 1438: APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – IDAHO DIGITAL LEARNING ACADEMY DIVISION – Relates to the… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 38–28 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | H 978: APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES – Relates to the appropriation… | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 34–29 |
| Mar 31, 2026 | S 1433: APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH AND WELFARE – MEDICAID – Relates to the appropriation to the… | Not voting | Yes | Yes | Passed 35–32 |
| Mar 30, 2026 | H 964: APPROPRIATIONS – DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME – Relates to the appropriation to the… | Not voting | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–30 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | S 1427: APPROPRIATIONS – DEPARTMENT OF LANDS – Relates to the appropriation to the Department of… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 36–33 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Palmer was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Idaho Legislative District 20 | Won | D+0.2 | R+33.4 | −33.6 |
| 2024 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+3.2 | — | — |
| 2022 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | R+0.1 | — | — |
| 2020 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+1.3 | — | — |
| 2018 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+4.7 | — | — |
| 2016 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+4.8 | — | — |
| 2016 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 (primary) | Won | +0.4 | — | — |
| 2014 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | R+4.8 | — | — |
| 2014 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 (primary) | Won | +0.5 | — | — |
| 2012 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+8.8 | — | — |
| 2010 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+0.1 | — | — |
| 2008 | Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 | Won | D+6.4 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Idaho Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $27.2K
- Spent
- $17.5K
- Cash
- $40.9K
Source: Idaho Secretary of State filings through Sep 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:43 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Joe Palmer State | Active |
Source: Idaho Secretary of State filings through Sep 24, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 12:43 AM ET
Seats Palmer has held
- Idaho House of Representatives, District 20 · since 2008
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Palmer has run against
- James D. Holtzclaw (R) · 2026 general, won
- James Holtzclaw (R) · 2024 election, won
- Marv Hagedorn (R) · 2010 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Idaho Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Palmer
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/ed09bbbc-7b10-4ee8-be6b-a4dfcd7330ec
- Wikidata Q6211680
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET