Idaho Democrat David Roth ends campaign for US Senate seat held by Risch

Roth won his primary contest in May and was slated to face incumbent Idaho Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, independents Achilles and Natalie Fleming, and Libertarian Matt Loesby in the November general election. 

“I have concluded that I can make the greatest difference by focusing my time and energy on helping Democrats win up and down the ballot and in communities across Idaho,” Roth said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

His statement did not include a mention of Achilles or any other candidate in the race. Roth could not be reached for comment.

Roth, 44, is an Idaho Falls resident and a consultant. He previously ran for the state Legislature in 2020, and for federal elected positions in 2022 and 2024. In 2022, he became the first openly gay candidate in Idaho to win a primary contest for a federal position, he has said. 

“I hope this campaign showed LGBTQ+ Idahoans, especially young people, that they belong in our politics, their voices matter, and no office should ever feel beyond their reach,” he said in his statement.

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Roth faced pressure to rally around Achilles, but did not endorse the independent

In June, former Idaho Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry LaRocco wrote opinion pieces in local newspapers, including the Idaho Statesman and Lewiston Tribune, calling for Roth to drop out and rally behind Achilles. LaRocco argued Achilles had a better chance to defeat the longtime incumbent. 

On July 8, Ada County Democrats sent a letter to Roth also encouraging him to drop out, the Spokesman-Review reported.  

Achilles told the Sun in a July 7 interview, “I think if David really wants to make change, there’s an opportunity to to work with us or work with others to to make that change. I think just being a name on a ballot isn’t good for Idaho.” 

However, Roth told the Idaho Capital Sun in a July 8 interview, that he disagreed with the reasoning behind the calls to rally around Achilles in an attempt to defeat Risch. 

“Prior to the filing deadline, there was discussion about whether or not we should just all rally behind the independent,” Roth said, “but the reality is, I met with Todd, and we talked about it, and we’re just too far away on issues that I think are absolutely critical to moving our country forward, and so we decided to run the primary.” 

Roth said he wanted to push forward progressive ideas, such a single-payer health care system and more substantial government housing investments. He said his stances on these issues were too different from Achilles, who generally has taken a more moderate approach. 

Roth’s campaign this year has raised about $8,600, according to Federal Election Commission data as of Tuesday. The Achilles campaign has raised more than $692,000, and Risch’s warchest has surpassed $3 million. 

“The campaign may be ending, but the work continues,” Roth said in his statement. “I remain committed to strengthening our party and electing leaders who will fight for Idaho families.” 

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