Jim Woodward announces another Senate run

Republican State Senator Jim Woodward is announcing his re-election campaign for the Legislative District 1 senate seat. The primary election is Tuesday, May 19, followed by the general election on Tuesday, November 3.

Legislative District 1 is all of Boundary County and most of Bonner County. Woodward knows the area well.

Other than time away for education and military service, he has spent the majority of his life here.

“I value our country and I value Idaho for our culture of individual liberties and small but responsive government,” he said. ” My time in the Navy instilled a sense of duty that drives me to serve the communities I have always been a part of. My children are fifth generation Idahoans. I want to keep Idaho the wonderful place it is for the next generation.”

Woodward currently serves on the Senate Education Committee and as Vice-chair of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. He previously served two years on the Senate Transportation Committee. He is also the Senate member on the Endowment Fund Investment Board. With six years total in the Idaho Legislature, he has participated in multiple interim committees, including most recently as co-chair of the 2025 Land Use & Housing Study Committee.

Now in his third term, Woodward is a tireless advocate for education, transportation and other rural infrastructure, public safety and wildland firefighting. He successfully sponsored legislation to support teacher retention in K-12 schools, to increase Idaho Department of Lands firefighting capabilities, and to determine industry standards for electric utilities in preventing wildfires.

Going forward, Woodward’s focus will remain on fiscally conservative budgeting which allows the state to reliably provide the services we expect.

“It is time we acknowledge our growth,” Jim said. “That doesn’t mean growing government, but it does mean matching government to the Idaho we live in today and providing roads, schools, and public safety for us and for our children moving forward.”

With an engineering degree from the University of Idaho and 21 years of Navy experience, Jim has the technical expertise and organizational experience to succeed in the legislative environment. As a small business owner for more than 20 years, he has the necessary personal skills, as well as a true understanding of how to efficiently manage the purse strings.

Civically active, Woodward frequently volunteers his time and equipment to various non-profit service activities and projects. He has 12 years of service on the Northern Lights Electric Co-op Board and represents Northern Lights with the statewide electric utility association. Formerly, Woodward served on the Sagle Fire Board, the Bonner General Hospital Foundation Advisory Board, and mentors attendees to the Girl’s State program every year.