Mike Simpson
U.S. House · ID-2 · Republicans · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · ID-2
Biography
Overview
Mike Simpson is a Republican U.S. Representative from Idaho's 2nd congressional district, serving since 1999. He represents eastern Idaho, including Boise, Pocatello, and Sun Valley. Simpson is known as a moderate Republican and member of the Republican Main Street Partnership who has taken bipartisan positions on climate change, immigration, LGBT rights, and other issues. Before Congress, he served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 1984 to 1998, including as Speaker from 1992 to 1998. He is a dentist by profession.
Career
Simpson's signature legislative achievement is the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA). A revised version became law in 2015 as the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act, signed by President Obama, creating 275,665 acres of wilderness in central Idaho. He has been a consistent advocate for a third federal judge for Idaho and has repeatedly introduced bills to divide the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Simpson has championed nuclear energy as an environmentally friendly power source and supports salmon restoration efforts. He has worked across party lines on immigration reform, supporting the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and increased H-2B visas, and has been a voice for arts funding through his support of the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities.
Prior political experience
Simpson was first elected to Congress in 1998 with 52% of the vote, defeating former Democratic congressman Richard H. Stallings. He has won reelection in every cycle since, with victory margins that have generally strengthened: 71% in 2008, 68.8% in 2010, 65.1% in 2012, 61.4% in 2014, 62.9% in 2016, 60.7% in 2018, 64.1% in 2020, 63.6% in 2022, and 61.4% in 2024. He ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in 2018. In the 2024 Republican primary, Simpson won with 54.7% against two opponents, outspending them 6-to-1. Stallings was the last Democrat to win as much as 40% of the vote in the district.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Mike Simpson
No active campaigns target Mike Simpson right now.
Start a campaign targeting Mike SimpsonOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2025–present | In progress | Mike Simpson | — |
| 13th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2023–2025 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 12th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2021–2023 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 11th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2019–2021 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 10th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2017–2019 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 9th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2015–2017 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 8th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2013–2015 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 7th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2011–2013 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 6th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2009–2011 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 5th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2007–2009 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 4th | U.S. House ID-2 | 2005–2007 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 3rd | U.S. House ID-2 | 2003–2005 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 2nd | U.S. House ID-2 | 2001–2003 | Term ended | Mike Simpson | Mike Simpson |
| 1st | U.S. House ID-2 | 1999–2001 | Term ended | Mike Crapo | Mike Simpson |
Committee assignments
- Interior, Environment, and Related AgenciesHouseChair· 2025–present
- Energy and Water Development and Related AgenciesHouse· 2025–present
- Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related AgenciesHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term4
- H.R. 6279
Urban Canal Modernization Act
Nov 21, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4754
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Jul 24, 2025INTRODUCED - H.R. 634
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2025
Jan 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 319
To authorize an additional district judgeship for the district of Idaho.
Jan 9, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8132
Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act
Mar 27, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8092
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026
Mar 26, 2026INTRODUCED - H.R. 7846
Halo Act
Mar 5, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7651
Chloe Cole Act of 2026
Feb 23, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7296
SAVE America Act
Jan 30, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6062
To transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain parcels of federal land in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and for other purposes.
Nov 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5688
Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act
Oct 3, 2025REPORTED - H.R. 5517
Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act
Sep 19, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5518
Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement Operations Expansion Act
Sep 19, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5483
Chloe Cole Act
Sep 18, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | U.S. House SC-6 | Pending | 1.73% |
|