Risch Continues Strong Lead Against Opponents in New Statewide Scientifically Sound Poll
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Erik Iverson, President, Peak Insights
RE: U.S. Senator Jim Risch Maintains Wide Lead, Even After Roth Dropped Out to Help Achilles
With 81 days left until the election, a recent statewide survey of likely 2026 general election voters (N=500 live calls; MoE +/-4%; Aug. 11-13, 2026) shows U.S. Senator Jim Risch leading by 34 points over his next closest competitor, Todd Achilles. Risch’s wide lead from June holds even after Democratic candidate David Roth dropped out of the race in an effort to help Achilles on the ballot.
| Aug. 11-13 | |
|---|---|
| Jim Risch, Republican | 52% |
| Todd Achilles, Independent | 18% |
| Natalie Fleming, Independent | 9% |
| Matt Loesby, Libertarian | 2% |
| None | 1% |
| Don’t know | 17% |
U.S. Senator Risch continues to lead in all media markets, in both Congressional Districts, and among men and women of all age groups. Risch has a wide lead among Republican voters and also leads among Unaffiliated voters.
Things get even worse for Achilles, as 67% of voters are less likely to vote for him (and 63% much less likely) after hearing the following:
“Todd Achilles claims to be an Independent, but just a year ago he was serving in the legislature as a liberal Democrat. Achilles supports allowing men to play in women’s sports and use women’s locker rooms and bathrooms. He’s also currently on the faculty at the liberal University of California Berkley and one of the biggest Democrat donors in Idaho, having donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Obama, Clinton, Biden and even Kamala Harris campaigns.”
Once voters learn this, Risch moves to 57% on the ballot.
Methodology: The survey was conducted Aug. 11-13, 2026, by Peak Insights. A total of 500 live phone interviews were conducted among a representative sample of likely 2026 general election voters in Idaho with a margin of error of +/-4%.
