Hello, I’m Representative Lauren Necochea
District 19 is where I was born and raised. It’s also where my husband and I chose to raise our family. I know how fortunate I was to attend strong public schools, to be born to a family with economic stability, and to live in a community where I was welcome. District 19 gave me a solid foundation that helped me to build a life for my own family.
I am working to make sure that every child in Idaho can attend a great school and that every family’s hard work is rewarded with financial security. I am working to ensure that every Idahoan feels welcome and finds opportunity, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or birthplace.
2024 Campaign Announcement:
Representing District 19 in the Idaho House of Representatives has been the privilege of a lifetime. I am grateful to the Democratic precinct captains who put my name forth for nomination back in 2019, the countless volunteers and donors who supported my campaigns, and the constituents who engaged in the legislative process.
I have made a bittersweet decision and will not seek reelection to my seat.
I have been honored to be part of a small but mighty House Democratic Caucus. We have made the difference by casting the key votes to enact the LAUNCH scholarship bill, beat back vouchers, save our libraries, and make many more critical policy decisions. Now in my fifth legislative session, I remain inspired by what committed underdogs can achieve. While we are outnumbered, I see how much our margins matter and how crucial every race in Idaho is.
I pursued public service because I was deeply concerned about the direction in which our state was heading. I believed we could do better and that Idahoans deserved representation in line with their values of caring for each other and nurturing the next generation to be successful.
I still believe we can achieve a stronger Idaho with widespread opportunity and broadly shared prosperity. We can invest in our youngest Idahoans and prepare them for bright futures. We can win back the reproductive freedoms that have been stripped away. And we can build a state where all are welcome, regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, place of birth, or other differences.
I know this requires a dramatic change in the balance of political power and that this change requires hard work across the state.
It was always my goal to leverage my role in the legislature as a platform to support the election of Democrats up and down the ticket, locally and statewide. I never anticipated I would have the enormous privilege of being elected chair of the Idaho Democratic Party.
Given the enormity and importance of the task at hand, I have decided to dedicate my energies fully to the role of party chair rather than seek another term in the legislature.
I look forward to helping Democrats get across the finish line this November so that we can cast more decisive votes to build a brighter future for Idaho. If you share this goal, please consider making a one-time or monthly gift at idahodems.org/donate.
I owe a particular debt of gratitude to my husband, daughters, parents, brothers and sisters-in-law for their support and the sacrifices they made so that I could serve. To them and to every voter and supporter who gave me this privilege, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Recent News
Our Vision for the Session: Idaho Democrats Focused on Economy, Affordability
To build a thriving economy with great jobs, we must invest in critical building blocks, such as strong schools and roads that can bring products to market. As we begin the 2023 Legislative Session, creating the conditions for prosperous communities is top of mind for...
Article: Idaho Statehouse has bipartisan support to index maximum homeowners exemption
Article originally published on KTVB Idaho's maximum homeowner exemption changed to flat cap in 2016. If the indexed rate was still in place, the maximum exemption would increase by nearly $100,000. The Idaho State Tax Commission (ISTC) released a memo in early...
Idaho League of Women Voters: D19 Candidate Survey
What do you hope to accomplish if elected? I am running to advance the priorities of my constituents: education, good jobs, healthcare, and widespread prosperity. I am also prepared to fight against the extremism that harms our state. This year we saw legislation...
PODCAST: In Search of Civility: Infrastructure, Investments, and Ideology
OPED: This time, we got something for kids
Originally published in Idaho Education News When I worked as a policy advocate for children’s issues at the Idaho Statehouse, I had a mentor who also operated in a majority-Republican state. He used to say, “You can’t get anything for kids unless the rich get more.”...
Rep. Necochea debates Special Session Bill, September 2022
Rep. Lauren Necochea debates the Special Session Bill in September 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN3aYp8cm9Y