Kevin Richert at Idaho Education News reported this morning that Rep. Wendy Horman, who has served in the Legislature since 2012, will resign as of January 5, 2026 to take a job in the Trump Administration:
Horman is resigning, effective Jan. 5, to join the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She will take a job as director of the Office of Child Care in the Administration for Children and Families. First elected in 2012, Horman leaves midway through her seventh House term.
“I first ran for elected office because I want every child to have the opportunity for an excellent education,” Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said in a news release Friday morning. “This is an opportunity to continue that work. The principles of limited government, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility that guide Idaho will continue to inform my work at the national level.”
Rep. Horman was one of the primary sponsors of House Bill 93, the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which goes into effect next year. Her seatmate, Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, has joined a lawsuit against the law, attempting to get it shut down before credits would be issued to participating families.
Horman is also co-chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), having taken over starting in the 2023 legislative session. House Speaker Mike Moyle must now choose a new co-chair prior to the start of the 2026 legislative session on January 12. Remaining members of JFAC on the House side are Vice Chair Rep. Steve Miller and Reps. Rod Furniss, Clay Handy, Brandon Mitchell, Elaine Price, Josh Tanner, Dustin Manwaring, and James Petzke.
The Legislative District 32 Central Committee of the Idaho Republican Party, chaired by Maria Hatch, will nominate three potential replacements at a meeting in the near future. Gov. Brad Little will select one, who will be sworn in to represent the district in the 2026 session.
In her new job, Horman will work alongside fellow Idahoan Alex Adams, who took office as Assistant Secretary for Family Support earlier this year.
Feature image by Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun
About Brian Almon
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
