Idaho Sunshine Report reveals fundraising gaps among North Idaho legislative candidates
Data in the Idaho Sunshine Report shows major differences in funding among North Idaho’s state congressional candidates.
Many candidates seek individual support rather than business support, while some seek neither and have done little to no fundraising.
District 3 - State Representative - Vito Barbieri, R
Barbieri has received $4,000 in donations for the General Election, none from individuals, but from businesses. $1,500 comes from out-of-state donors and $2,500 comes from Idaho donors.
His top donors include:
- Idaho Realtors PAC - $1,000
- RAI Services Company - $1,000
- IBWDA PAC - $500
- Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Political Action Committee - $500
- Maverik, Inc. - $500
District 3 - State Representative - Melissa Mateer, D
Mateer has raised around $4,500 in donations for the General Election thus far. $3,500 comes from individuals, while $1,000 comes from a central committee. None of Mateer’s donations come from businesses. Most of her raised funds, about $3,250, come from in-state donors, while $1,313 comes from out-of-state donors.
Her top donors include:
- Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee - $1,000
- Terese Fandel - $500
- Shelley Mateer - $300
- Tim Buchanan - $250
- Don Birak - $250
District 3 - State Senator - Douglass Okuniewicz, R
The General Election for the District 3 state senator seat is between Brian Seguin and incumbent Okuniewicz. The race has a large fundraising gap.
Okuniewicz has received nearly $3,700 in contributions for the General Election. About $2,000 comes from businesses, about $200 from individuals, and the remaining $1,500 from a political action committee.
Most of his donations come from Idaho donors, around $2,200. The remaining $1,500 comes from out of state.
His top donors include:
- Senate Republican PAC of Idaho - $1,000
- Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Political Action Committee - $500
- Altria Client Services, LLC - $500.00
- Republic Services - $500.00
- Google Client Services, LLC - $500.00
District 3 - State Senator - Brian Seguin, D
Seguin has taken in a few contributions for the General Election. He has accepted $686, all of which comes from individuals. He has received $225 from Idaho donors; the remaining $461 comes from out of state.
His top donors include:
- Nghi Nguyen - $250.00
- Brian Seguin (himself) - $100
- David Diltz - $100
- Kent Burgess - $100
- Hayes, Matthew - $100.00
District 4 - State Representative - Joe Alfieri, R
Incumbent Alfieri is running against Taylor McSwain for State Representative, Zone B. His General Election contributions come from two sources, totaling $500. The Professional Firefighters of Idaho Political Action Committee contributed $250, and the California-based company Calethos contributed another $250.
District 4 - State Representative - Taylor McSwain, D
McSwain has raised nearly $2,000 for the General Election, with essentially all of it coming from Idaho donors. McSwain has received only $12.72 from out of state.
He has received around $1,000 from individuals and around $1,000 from a committee.
His top donors include:
- Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee - $1,000
- Christine Schaller - $600
- Dan English - $100
- Evan Koch - $100
- Richard Henry - $75
District 4 - State Representative - Elaine Price, R
Incumbent Elaine Price competes with Aaron Hayes for the Zone B State Representative seat. Price has received $3,750 in contributions for the General Election, with around $2,000 coming from Idaho donors. $1,175 comes from out-of-state.
Around half of Price’s contributions come from businesses, totaling $1,750. The rest comes from political action committees and a few individual donors.
Her top donors include:
- Idaho Summit PAC - $1,000
- Reynolds American Inc. - $1,000
- RHINO PAC - $750
- Idaho Charter School PAC - $500
- Jason Monks - $350
District 4 - State Representative - Aaron Hayes, D
Hayes has received about $6,600 in contributions for the General Election, with the vast majority coming from Idaho donors. Only about $600 comes from out of state. Hayes received nearly $5,600 from individuals and took in no contributions from businesses.
His top donors include:
- Kootenai County Democrats Club - $1,000
- William Appleton - $750
- Christine Schaller - $500
- Linda Wagner - $500
- Doria Rabe - $500
District 4 - State Senator - Ben Toews, R
Incumbent Toews runs against Carissa Brewer for the District 4 Senate Seat. The two candidates have a wide funding gap.
Toews has raised about $15,000, with about $11,000 from Idaho donors. $4,250 comes from out-of-state. Most of the funds raised come from businesses ($5,600), and about $3,300 comes from individuals.
His major donors include:
- Idaho AGC State Political Action Committee - $1,000
- Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Political Action Committee - $1,000
- Idaho Soft Drink Association PAC - $1,000
- Airbnb - $1,000
- Senate Republican PAC of Idaho - $1,000
District 4 - State Senator - Carissa Brewer, D
Brewer has raised around $1,800 for the General Election. $1,600 comes from Idaho donors; the rest comes from out-of-state. Brewer has received no contributions from businesses, only individuals.
Her top donors include:
- Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee - $500
- Lisa Nunlist - $500
- Paula Neils - $500
- Theresa Brewer - $200
- Paula Marano - $150
District 5 - State Representative - Ronald Mendive, R
Incumbent Mendive is running against Mirna Pleines for Zone A State Representative. For the General Election, Mendive has raised around $2,150 from just three donors. The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation donated $1,000, the Idaho Charter School PAC donated $750, and Google Services (California) donated $400.
District 5 - State Representative - Mirna Pleines, D
Pleines has raised just over $1,000 for the General Election, with $750 coming from Idaho donors. She has received contributions from both individuals and a central committee.
Her top donors include:
- Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee - $500
- Sonia Ozaeta - $300
- Brandon Ozaeta - $200
- Phillip Ward - $50
- Katrina Glerum - $5
District 5 - State Representative - Tony Wisniewski, R
Incumbent Wisniewski is running against Lee Wallace for State Representative, Zone B. The single donation comes from the Rhino Hunters of the Inland Northwest political group, worth $750.
District 5 - State Representative - Lee Wallace, D
According to the Idaho Sunshine report, Wallace has received no contributions for the 2026 primary election or the November general election.
District 5 - State Senator - Carl Bjerke, R
Incumbent Bjerke is running against Adam Chapman for the District 5 Senate Seat. Bjerke has raised around $4,200 for the General Election. His fundraising is nearly evenly split between in-state and out-of-state donors. He has received $1,000 from individuals, $1,150 from businesses and $2,000 from political action groups.
District 5 - State Senator - Adam Chapman, D
According to the Idaho Sunshine Report, Chapman has not received any contributions for the 2026 Primary or 2026 General Elections.
Barbieri
Okuniewicz
Seguin
Alfieri
Price
Hayes
Mendive
Wisniewski
Bjerke