Erickson Seeks Third Term in Idaho House District 33B Primary Against Burger
IDAHO FALLS — Voters in Idaho Legislative District 33B will head to the polls Monday, May 19, to decide whether to send six-year incumbent Rep. Marco Erickson back to the statehouse or replace him with challenger Jilene Burger in the Republican primary.
Erickson, first elected in 2020, has built his legislative record around mental health policy, juvenile justice reform, and fiscal conservatism. Burger, who is challenging the incumbent, did not respond to a candidate questionnaire distributed to both campaigns ahead of the primary.
Erickson’s Background and Legislative Record
Erickson holds a master’s degree in psychology and points to more than two decades of community and public service as the foundation of his political career. He describes himself as having been drawn to service from a young age, with professional experience leading large-scale community development projects across multiple states.
In the Idaho House, Erickson currently serves as vice chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee and holds seats on the Judiciary and Rules Committee, the Local Government Committee, and the Joint Millennium Funds Committee. He also participates in a task force focused on child custody matters. Beyond Idaho, he chairs an education and workforce development policy body representing 13 western states — a position he says was awarded by peers from across the region.
Erickson is a husband of 24 years and the father of five children.
Platform: Taxes, Housing, and Practical Conservatism
On policy, Erickson frames the rising cost of housing and everyday essentials as the top concern facing District 33B residents. He argues that while federal spending decisions create economic pressures that Idaho cannot control, the state can counter those effects through tax cuts and regulatory reform. He credits his tenure with advancing what he calls historic reductions in the state tax burden.
Erickson pushes back against a strain of conservatism he characterizes as purely oppositional — voting against every budget line and calling it fiscal responsibility. In his own words, he prefers to “remodel the building” rather than tear it down, emphasizing practical problem-solving over ideological posturing.
On bipartisanship, the incumbent notes that minority-party members in the legislature align with the majority on more than 70 percent of votes, and that Republican lawmakers themselves disagreed internally on roughly 41 percent of legislation this past session. He points to co-sponsored bills with minority-party members as evidence of his approach.
Erickson says he voted with his Republican caucus on 459 of 486 House floor votes during the current session, but he is quick to add that party alignment is a byproduct of his own judgment rather than loyalty to outside scorecards or organizational pressure. “I serve people, not a party,” he has stated in public remarks.
He also emphasizes constituent access as a core part of his role, citing town halls and direct community engagement as central to how he identifies and responds to voter concerns.
What Comes Next
District 33B voters will cast ballots in the May 19 primary. Because Burger did not submit responses to candidate questions, her platform and priorities have not been publicly detailed ahead of Election Day. The winner of the Republican primary will advance as the party’s nominee.
Other competitive legislative and county races are also on the May 19 ballot across the region. Two Republicans are squaring off for the District 29 Seat B nomination in a separate primary contest, and Bannock County’s District 2 commissioner seat features its own contested matchup between Republican candidates. Voters should confirm their polling location and registration status before heading to the polls Monday.