Veterans on the 2026 Ballot

Achilles grew up on a farm in Oregon, entered the Army through ROTC, and served as a tank commander for three years before building a career in technology leadership. He served in the Idaho Legislature as a Democrat before leaving the party in 2025 to run as an Independent. He is one of the founders of Veterans for Idaho Voters and has made veterans' issues and fiscal responsibility central themes of his Senate campaign.

One of the most senior veterans on the Idaho ballot this cycle, Zabel commanded units at Pope AFB, Beale AFB, and Hill AFB before rising to senior staff roles on the Air Staff, Joint Staff, and U.S. Transportation Command. She retired in 2018 as a Major General, then wrote a book on the science of depression before entering the 2026 race. A former Republican, she is running as an Independent with a platform focused on fiscal discipline, health care access, and public lands.

Houser joined the Air Force in 1995, was stationed at Mountain Home AFB, and deployed to the Middle East before transitioning to the Idaho National Guard and deploying to Iraq. He has lived in Idaho for nearly 30 years and built a small business while continuing his Guard service. He is running as an Independent, focused on returning the district's representation to Idaho families rather than party interests.

Johanson enlisted in the Navy as a Nuclear Operator and completed one of the military's most demanding technical training pipelines before serving aboard the USS Georgia. He separated honorably in 2020 as a Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) First Class (E-6) and Senior Supervisor. He is now an engineer running on a platform of individual liberty and limited government under the Libertarian banner, and is one of five general election challengers to incumbent Congressman Mike Simpson in Idaho's sprawling 2nd Congressional District.

Nostrant is a decorated Coast Guard veteran who has lived in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley since 1987. After his military service he worked for the U.S. Forest Service before entering banking and later construction management. He is making his first run for the Idaho Legislature in District 7A, focusing on education funding, public lands, homeowner tax relief, and restoring services cut in the 2026 legislative session.

Lewis grew up in Boise, graduated from Capitol High School, and earned her degree from the University of Idaho before enlisting in the Idaho National Guard as a combat medic. She deployed to Iraq with the 116th Brigade Combat Team and returned home to build a career as a Physician Assistant. She now lives in Valley County, where she also teaches healthcare students as adjunct faculty at Idaho State University. District 8A is the largest legislative district in Idaho by geographic area, covering four counties. Lewis is running on constitutional governance, fiscal responsibility, rural school funding, healthcare access, and public lands stewardship.