| Megan Blanksma | |
| Office: | Majority Leader of the Idaho House of Representatives |
| Term Start: | December 1, 2022 |
| Term End: | February 8, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Mike Moyle |
| Successor: | Jason Monks |
| Office1: | Member of the Idaho House of Representatives |
| Term Start1: | December 1, 2016 |
| Term End1: | November 30, 2024 |
| Predecessor1: | Pete Nielsen |
| Constituency1: | 23rd district Seat B (2016–2020) 8th district Seat B (2020–present) |
| Birth Place: | Nampa, Idaho, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Education: | University of Idaho (BS) |
Megan C. Blanksma (born in Nampa, Idaho) is an American politician serving as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from District 8 in seat B.[1] A member of the Republican Party, she served as the majority leader in the House of Representatives from 2022 to February 8, 2024, when she was removed due to disagreements within the Republican caucus.[2]
Blanksma was born and raised in Nampa. She graduated from Nampa High School and served as a legislative page in the Idaho Senate during her senior year. Later, she earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Idaho.
From 2014 to 2016, Blanksma served as Chair of the Elmore County Republican Party, after many years as a volunteer in many capacities at the county and state level.[3] She also serves on the St. Luke's Elmore Community Board.
Blanksma challenged 14-year incumbent Pete Nielsen in the Republican primary in 2016. She was endorsed by Governor Butch Otter.[4] After securing the nomination, Blanksma faced only independent and third party opposition in the general election and was elected to the seat.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Blanksma criticized the Idaho Central District Health for endorsing a statement by Lauren McLean, the Democratic mayor of Boise, who supported Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance regarding masking and vaccines.[5]
Blanksma and her husband, Jeff, live on a farm in Hammett, Idaho.
| Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Primary[6] | align="right" | 3,387 | 71.0% | align="right" | 1,052 | 22.1% | align="right" | 329 | 6.9% | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 General[7] | align="right" | 10,810 | 77.1% | align="right" | 2,335 | 16.6% | align="right" | 889 | 6.3% | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 Primary[8] | align="right" | 4,328 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 General[9] | align="right" | 10,441 | 97.9% | align="right" | 220 | 2.1% | |||||||||||||||||
| 2020 Primary[10] | align="right" | 6,112 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 General[11] | align="right" | 12,941 | 74.5% | align="right" | 3,234 | 18.6% | align="right" | 1,186 | 6.8% |
| Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Primary[12] | align="right" | 6,995 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 General[13] | align="right" | 12,604 | 83.6% | align="right" | 2,482 | 16.5% |