Sarah
Zabel
Retired Air Force Major General and Independent candidate challenging Rep. Russ Fulcher in Idaho's 1st Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 9
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 5
Background
Sarah Zabel is an Independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Idaho's 1st Congressional District, running in the November 3, 2026 general election against incumbent Rep. Russ Fulcher. 2620
Zabel served 31 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2018 as a major general. During her military career she commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels and served as vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. 263
She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1987 with a degree in computer science and holds three master's degrees—in computer science, military operational art and science, and strategic studies. After retiring from the military, she worked as an adjunct researcher at RAND Corporation, which she left at the end of 2025 to run for Congress. 263
Zabel says she bought land in Bayview, Idaho in 2013 and moved into her home there in 2020. She previously identified as a Republican during her military career and is now running as an Independent. 62021
At a glance
- Party
- Independent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, Idaho
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- zabelforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknowndebateZabel appears at DART Independent Candidate Forum in Coeur d'Alene in September 2026
Zabel appeared with two other independent candidates at the DART Independent Candidate Forum in Coeur d'Alene. About 100 people attended; candidates criticized the two-party system. Reported by Independent Voter News around September 16.
Independent Candidates Are Taking Idaho by Storm in 2026 · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Nov 3filingZabel listed as general election candidate for Idaho's 1st Congressional District
Zabel is listed among candidates for the November 3 general election, running as an independent against Republican incumbent Russ Fulcher, Democrat Kaylee Peterson, and Constitution Party candidate Brendan Gomez.
Who are the candidates running to represent Idaho's 1st congressional district? · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 11newsZabel says at forum she had 'always assumed' she was Republican before retiring
At a forum, Zabel told the Coeur d'Alene Press: 'When I retired in 2018, I had always assumed that I was Republican,' signaling her shift toward independent politics.
Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 24debateZabel accepts invitation to October 17 debate, Fulcher unreachable
The Idaho Capital Sun reported that Democrat Kaylee Peterson invited Zabel and Fulcher to an October 17 debate. Zabel said she would make her case 'in every forum I can find.' Fulcher could not be reached for comment. The debate had not yet taken place as of October 12.
Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 16endorsementReform Party of the United States endorses Zabel
Independent Political Report reported that the Reform Party of the United States announced its endorsement of Sarah Zabel in the Idaho 1st District race.
Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30endorsementIndependent Veterans of America endorses Zabel for Idaho's 1st District
Founder Paul Rieckhoff announced the endorsement, saying Zabel is 'an impressive, committed and serious leader that is uniting people of all backgrounds across Idaho.'
Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Feb 24filingSarah Zabel files for Idaho's 1st Congressional District seat
Zabel filed for the seat as an independent candidate; the Idaho Secretary of State's candidate search lists her filing as approved. She faced no primary contest.
Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Veterans for Idaho Voters (V4IV) organizationV4IV's endorsed-candidates page lists Zabel for Idaho's 1st Congressional District. v4iv.org
- Idaho American Federation of Teachers—Local #3215 unionListed on Zabel's campaign endorsement list; also reported by Triopolitan. zabelforcongress.com
- Forward Party organizationListed as an endorser on Zabel's campaign website. zabelforcongress.com
- Reform Party USA organizationAnnouncement date reported as August 13, 2026; covered by Triopolitan on August 17, 2026. triopolitan.com · Aug 13, 2026
- Independent Veterans of America (IVA) organizationIVA founder Paul Rieckhoff quoted: "She is an impressive, committed and serious leader that is uniting people of all backgrounds across Idaho." idahovoters.com · Jun 30, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $81K
- Spent
- $57K
- Cash on hand
- $24K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6ID01318(opens in a new tab)
Sources 9
- [1] Zabel for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Endorsed Candidates — Veterans for Idaho Voters (V4IV)(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Sarah Zabel, U.S. House District 1 | Idaho Voter Guide(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [4] Who are the candidates running to represent Idaho's 1st congressional district?(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [5] What I Stand For | Take Action for Idaho(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [6] Independent Candidates Are Taking Idaho by Storm in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [7] 2026 general election survey: U.S. House of Representatives District 1(opens in a new tab) Aug 24, 2026
- [8] U.S. Reform Party Demonstrates It Is Not Completely Dead by Endorsing Idaho Independent Sarah Zabel(opens in a new tab) Aug 17, 2026
- [9] Independent representative candidate visits Moscow, talks ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 29, 2026