SANDPOINT — Longtime Sandpoint resident and former school principal Steve Johnson is running for the District 1 state Senate seat as an independent in November.

Johnson said he’s running as a “lunch bucket” candidate whose goals surround improving the lives of Idaho families in tangible ways. Cost of living issues, like affordable housing, ranked highly for Johnson because of his background growing up and working in North Idaho. 

“My dad worked in the sawmill and always smelled like sawdust when he came home and had a lunch bucket just like this,” Johnson said, grabbing his metal lunch pail. “My primary goal is to do whatever I can to improve the lives of Idaho families... anything that helps families in what I call the bread-and-butter context is something that I would be supporting and encouraging.” 

One idea that Johnson proposed was introducing a state program that would offer first-time homebuyers assistance in making a down payment, similar to the Federal Housing Administration’s programs. Johnson said he’s seen the housing affordability issue firsthand, as all his four children have been priced out of homes in the region. 

Johnson said that housing affordability has been detrimental to communities in the state because people lack ownership over their own communities. 

“When Marguerite and I were first married, we qualified for a federal program...and we were able to get into a house,” Johnson said. “We didn't have much of a down payment, but it was helped by the state and the federal government that until you were making enough money to make a full-blown payment, and so a lot of young families were able to get into housing.” 

As a former educator, Johnson said that public education is another priority for his campaign. Johnson decried the low spending for public schools in Idaho, which ranked last in the nation per student in fiscal year 2024, according to Idaho Ed News.  

Johnson said not only would he push to increase per-student spending, but also allocate further dollars for education infrastructure. He referenced the condition of the Lincoln Elementary building, the current home of Lake Pend Oreille High School, where he taught for 20 years. 

“That building is so old and needs so much maintenance that there's talk about having to close it and trying to put those students somewhere else,” Johnson said. “So, not only the instruction, but the facilities need to be a priority. The ideal [education system] would be safe, functional, current facilities with highly qualified instructional staff.” 

With the state amid a budget crunch, Johnson said he would like to see the state use its surplus to fund these programs and right the ship of the state’s priorities. Instead of further tax cuts and breaks for corporations, Johnson said he’d like to maintain that level and take that money and put it toward the next generation of Idahoans.  

“If we want our next generation and several generations into the future to stay here, in my opinion, they need a quality education, and that leads to quality jobs,” Johnson said. “At this point, it seems like education, public education, has not been the priority that I feel it should be.” 

As the only independent candidate, Johnson has no challenger in the May 19 primary. His name will appear on the November ballot against the winner of the Republican nomination.