James Elroy Risch is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Idaho since 2009. A Republican, he previously served as Idaho’s lieutenant governor under Dirk Kempthorne and Butch Otter, and briefly as governor after Kempthorne resigned to join the federal cabinet.
Raised in Milwaukee, Risch moved to Idaho in the early 1960s and graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in forestry (1965) before earning his J.D. (1968). He taught criminal law at Boise State and entered politics as Ada County prosecuting attorney (elected in 1970). He later served multiple stints in the Idaho Senate, including leadership roles, before winning statewide executive office.
Risch won election to the U.S. Senate in 2008 and has been reelected in 2014 and 2020. In Washington he has built a profile around a small-government, pro-energy agenda paired with a consistently hawkish foreign policy posture, most prominently as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Politically, Risch is closely aligned with conservative priorities on taxation, deregulation, gun rights, and resource-development policy. Supporters see him as a reliable vote for Idaho’s energy, land-use, and national security interests; critics argue he is intensely partisan and overly deferential to defense and industry-linked priorities.
Mainstream Conservative
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Built a long Idaho political career spanning the state Senate, lieutenant governorship, and a brief stint as governor before entering the U.S. Senate.
- Became a senior Senate voice on foreign policy and national security, serving as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
- Maintained a consistent focus on Western land, water, and resource-development priorities aligned with Idaho’s energy and agricultural economy.
- Advocated for tax cuts and deregulation, emphasizing a small-government approach to economic policy.
- Held influence on intelligence-related oversight through Select Committee assignments.
Controversies
- Criticized for limited congressional oversight posture during periods when foreign-policy accountability became a major flashpoint (including State Department and arms-sale debates).
- Has drawn backlash for hardline foreign-policy and sanctions stances, and for aggressive rhetoric in high-salience crises.
- Scrutinized for close alignment with defense and energy-linked interests and donors.
- Faced criticism over positions opposing ACA-related expansions and major bipartisan social-spending pushes.
- Periodic national attention for optics moments (including a widely noted Senate-floor “nap” during impeachment trial proceedings).
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Companies | $60,800 | $60,800 | $0 |
| Micron Technology | $44,510 | $13,510 | $31,000 |
| Idaho Power | $40,599 | $5,600 | $34,999 |
| PotlatchDeltic Corp | $39,500 | $11,500 | $28,000 |
| General Atomics | $36,100 | $26,100 | $10,000 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2014 Margin R +30%
2020 Margin R +30%