Stephen Hartgen


Stephen Hartgen is a Republican Idaho State Representative since 2008.

Early life, education, and career

Hartgen is the son of artist and University of Maine professor Vincent Hartgen. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from Amherst College, his master's in American history from Brandeis University, and his doctorate in American history from the University of Minnesota. Hartgen is a business consultant and a former editor and publisher of the Times-News.

Idaho House of Representatives

In July 2008, after the death of Senator Tom Gannon, the Legislative District 23 Republican Central Committee met to fill the vacancy in the Senate seat and replace Gannon's name on the upcoming general election ballot. The committee selected then-Representative Bert Brackett of Rogerson to replace Gannon's name on the ballot and sent three names in order of preference to Governor Butch Otter to fill the vacancy: Brackett, Hartgen, and Jeanne Gannon of Buhl, the widow of Senator Gannon. Governor Otter appointed Brackett to serve the remainder of Gannon's term. The committee met again to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives from Brackett's appointment to the Senate and replace Brackett's name for representative on the upcoming general election ballot. The committee selected Hartgen to replace Brackett's name on the ballot for Representative and sent three names in order of preference to Governor Otter to fill the vacancy: Hartgen, former Representative Gene Winchester, of Homedale, and Doran Parkins, of Marsing. Governor Otter appointed Hartgen to serve the remainder of Brackett's term in the House.

Committee assignments

Hartgen previously served on the Education Committee from 2008-2012.

Elections

YearCandidateVotesPctCandidateVotesPct
2012 Primary2,932100%
2012 General9,20259.9%6,16440.1%
2014 Primary2,699100%
2014 General5,58753.5%4,85046.5%
2016 Primary2,10359.0%1,46241.0%
2016 General10,16161.3%6,42238.7%