Chuck Winder

Chuck Winder is an American politician and former Republican member of the Idaho Senate. He served as the president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate and as the majority leader. He is married to Dianne Winder; the couple has two children.^[1][2]

Chuck Winder
41st President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate
In office December 3, 2020 – November 30, 2024
Preceded by	Brent Hill
Succeeded by	Kelly Anthon
Majority Leader of the Idaho Senate
In office September 21, 2017 – December 1, 2020
Preceded by	Bart Davis
Succeeded by	Kelly Anthon
Member of the Idaho Senate
In office December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2024
Preceded by	Stan Bastian
Succeeded by	Josh Keyser
Constituency	14th district (2008–2012) 20th district (2012–2024)
Personal details
Born	(1945-11-21) November 21, 1945 (age 79) Ontario, Oregon, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Dianne Winder
Education	College of Idaho (BA)

Early life, education, and career

Winder joined the United States Navy where he served for four years on active duty as a naval aviator and for eight years on inactive reserve. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and pre-law from the College of Idaho.^[3]

Winder is a commercial real estate brokerage.^[4]

Political career

He ran for the Republican nomination in 1994 for Governor of Idaho losing with 13.5% of the vote.^[5]

He is a former member of the Ada County Highway District Commission. He previously served on both the Boise City Design Review Committee and the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission.^[1]

In 2003, Winder ran for mayor of Boise, Idaho, but lost to David H. Bieter.^[6]

From 2005 through 2008, Winder was a co-chair of the Treasure Valley's Coalition for Regional Public Transportation.^[7] In 2008, the coalition merged with the statewide Moving Idaho Forward organization.^[8][9]

Winder serves as the president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate, and previously served as majority leader.^[10][11]

Winder lost the Republican nomination on May 21, 2024.

District 14 Senate - Part of Ada County

Year	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct
2008 Primary[12]	Chuck Winder	2,715	42.7%	Stan Bastian (incumbent)	2,076	32.6%	Saundra McDavid	1,327	20.8%	Henry Kulczyk	247	3.9%
2008 General[13]	Chuck Winder	27,253	100%
2010 Primary[14]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	6,762	100%
2010 General[15]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	20,674	100%

District 20 Senate - Part of Ada County

Year	Candidate	Votes	Pct	Candidate	Votes	Pct
2012 Primary[16]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	2,290	55.5%
2012 General[17]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	12,303	68.4%	James Mace	5,695	31.6%
2014 Primary[18]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	2,642	100%
2014 General[19]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	10,155	100%
2016 Primary[20]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	2,000	100%
2016 General[21]	Chuck Winder (incumbent)	13,787	67.9%	Bill Rutherford	6,525	32.1%

In the Republican Party presidential primaries, 2012 Winder supported Mitt Romney.^[22]

Organizations

• Lifetime member of United States Navy League
• Vice President of Ore-Ida Council, Boy Scouts of America, 4 years
• Boise Metro Economic Development Council
• Children's Home Society of Idaho.
• Junior Achievement of Idaho (former president)
• Co-chairman Treasure Valley Transit Coalition
• Board of Directors Jeker Family Trust
• Board of Directors Children's Home Society of Idaho
• Boise Chamber of Commerce
• Valley Initiative for Prosperity
• Co-founder and initial President, Joint School District #2, Education Foundation
• Idaho Coordinator for the National Prayer Breakfast
• Chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board, 11 years
• Co-chairman of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force
• Trustee at Albertson's College of Idaho, 12 years
• Bible Study Fellowship (Boise Evening Men's), 20+ years
• Boise City Planning & Zoning Commission, 3 years
• Boise City Design & Review Committee, 4 years
• Ada County Highway District Commission, 12.5 years
• Ada Planning Association, 12.5 years

^[23]