The Reform Party of the United States has endorsed independent congressional candidate Sarah Zabel in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, making her the party’s first endorsement of a U.S. House candidate this election cycle.
The Reform Party National Committee announced the organization’s support for Zabel over social media on August 13, writing in a follow-up remark that it expects to back between 15 and 20 candidates during the 2026 election. Zabel is the first candidate endorsed by the party since its initial round of endorsements in March, when it backed two independent candidates for statewide office along with several candidates for local positions.
Zabel is a retired U.S. Air Force major general who served more than 31 years on active duty after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. According to her campaign biography, she specialized in communications and computer systems, with her work eventually expanding into cyber operations and cybersecurity. Her career included several command and leadership positions, teaching computer science at the Air Force Academy, and serving as vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency before retiring in 2018.
Zabel moved to Bayview, Idaho, following her military retirement, where she later worked as an adjunct with the RAND Corporation before leaving at the end of 2025 to run for Congress. Zabel says she entered the race out of frustration with partisanship in Washington and argues that elected officials should work for their constituents rather than party leadership.
While the Reform Party is the first political party to formally throw its support behind Zabel, her independent campaign has previously garnered support from several advocacy organizations. Independent Veterans of America endorsed her in June, identifying Zabel as the highest-ranking former military officer among its endorsed candidates for 2026. She has also received support from Veterans for Idaho Voters and University of Idaho AFT Local 3215.
Zabel is set to face Republican incumbent Russ Fulcher, Democratic nominee Kaylee Peterson, and Constitution Party candidate Brendan Gomez in the November general election, where she will appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. Both Peterson and Gomez have previously challenged Fulcher for the seat.
Be First to Comment