Casey Swensen Challenges Incumbent Josh Kohl in Idaho State Senate District 25 Republican Primary
Twin Falls Voters to Choose Between Sitting Senator and Former Prosecutor in May 19 GOP Primary
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — With the May 19 primary election approaching, Republican voters in Idaho’s State Senate District 25 will decide between an incumbent legislator finishing his first term and a challenger with roots deep in the Twin Falls community. Incumbent Senator Josh Kohl and former prosecutor Casey Swensen are competing for the GOP nomination, setting up what could be a defining race for Magic Valley representation in the Idaho State Senate.
Kohl earned his seat in the 2024 Republican primary, defeating then-Senator Linda Wright Hartgen with more than 60% of nearly 5,000 votes cast. He ran unopposed in the general election and is now seeking a second two-year term in Boise. He has positioned himself as a conservative outsider willing to push back against what he describes as a disconnect between what candidates promise at home and how they vote in the Statehouse.
“The reason I got involved in politics in the first place was because I noticed that the establishment candidates would say the right things here in Twin Falls, they would run as conservatives,” Kohl said. “But then when they got to Boise, the votes reflected something different, and they ended up voting much more in line with a liberal establishment or the corporate lobbyists.”
Swensen, a Twin Falls native, brings a background that includes prosecutorial experience, small business ownership, and a return to his hometown to raise his family. He grew up working at the family business, Swensen’s Market, before studying law and serving as a prosecutor. He later owned a pest control company in the Midwest before coming back to Twin Falls.
Candidates Clash Over Spending, Regulations, and Agriculture
Swensen is framing his campaign around fiscal responsibility, cutting government regulation, and delivering what he describes as effective, experience-driven leadership for the Magic Valley’s unique needs.
“We need effective leadership in the legislature, so based on my experience as a prosecutor, a small business owner, and then understanding community as a whole, I’ll be able to solve the problems that are unique to the Magic Valley,” Swensen said.
On economic policy, Swensen has made reducing the regulatory burden on small businesses a centerpiece of his pitch to Republican primary voters. “As a small business owner, I saw firsthand how government regulations can really thwart your ability to grow, to hire new people, to reinvest in the community, so we need to be addressing those regulations and the tax code to make sure our small businesses can grow,” he said.
One of Swensen’s pointed criticisms of Kohl concerns a vote related to agricultural infrastructure — a significant issue in a region heavily tied to farming and water rights along the Snake River. Swensen alleged that Kohl’s vote against a $30 million infrastructure fund did not represent the region’s agricultural interests.
Kohl pushed back directly on that characterization, arguing that his opposition was rooted in fiscal responsibility and protecting Idaho taxpayers. “The reality is I voted for over $80 million in water infrastructure,” Kohl said. “What I voted against was essentially a $30 million slush fund that goes on in perpetuity, but when you got down in the guts of that bill, there wasn’t a lot of guardrails to protect Idaho’s tax dollars.”
The exchange reflects a broader debate within Idaho’s Republican Party about the balance between supporting agriculture — the backbone of the Magic Valley economy — and ensuring that government spending comes with meaningful accountability measures. For more on what lawmakers approved and rejected during the recently concluded legislative session, see our coverage of Gov. Little’s recap of the 2026 legislative session at the Twin Falls library.
What Comes Next
Republican voters in Idaho State Senate District 25 will cast their ballots on May 19, 2026. The winner of the GOP primary will secure the nomination for the general election this fall. Voters who cannot make it to the polls in person should note that absentee voting is now open for Idaho’s May primary election. Both candidates have been making their case to Twin Falls-area constituents ahead of the deadline, and the outcome will determine who represents District 25 in the Idaho State Senate for the next two-year term. For statewide political coverage, visit Idaho News.