From Lawmaker to Bridge-Builder: How Chenele Dixon Is Bringing All Idaho Voters Back to the Table

When Chenele Dixon invited her neighbors to a barbecue this past summer, she wasn’t planning a political event — she was creating space for people to reconnect. She called it “Grillin’ Up Hope for Idaho,” a backyard gathering where Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together to share a meal and talk about how to move their state forward. To spark that conversation, Chenele invited two guest speakers — one Democratic legislator and one Republican — to share their experiences working across the aisle.

It was a simple idea born from something she’d noticed in her work: people were tired of politics dividing communities that used to feel close-knit. Over grilled burgers and conversation, she wanted to remind attendees that democracy begins with showing up for one another — the same way representatives should show up for the people they serve. “People are thirsty for conversations that bring us together,” she says. “They just want to know their representatives are actually representing them.”

That sense of connection — and the belief that politics can still serve the public good — drives Chenele’s work today. As founder of Idaho Solutions, she’s helping restore trust between voters and elected leaders by encouraging dialogue, education, and participation in the state’s elections.

But her journey started in the thick of the problem she’s now trying to solve.

A Front-Row Seat to a Broken System

In 2022, Chenele was elected to Idaho’s legislature as a pragmatic Republican. Two years later, she lost her primary to a challenger backed by national groups that poured money into local races, funding ads that attacked her for a single vote against a bill that would have allowed residents to sue public libraries over books they deemed “harmful to minors.”

Her vote reflected a belief in community decision-making — that library boards, not legislators or lawsuits, are best equipped to handle local concerns. But it became political fodder in a race shaped by outside influence and low voter turnout.

“Only about a quarter of eligible voters participated in my primary,” she recalls. “And because most Idaho elections are decided in the Republican primary, that small group of voters essentially decided who represents everyone.”

The loss revealed something deeper than one political defeat — it showed how closed primaries and hyper-partisan incentives can silence the majority of voters. Since Idaho’s Republican primary closed to independent voters in 2012, the state has seen an increasing number of races decided by a small, ideologically narrow electorate.

“When that happened,” Chenele says, “it took reasonable voices out of the process. The unaffiliated voters — the ones in the middle — were shut out, and that gave oxygen to the more extreme candidates.”

“It’s not that Idahoans are becoming more extreme,” Chenele added. “It’s that fewer people are choosing who gets on the ballot in the first place.”

Bridging the Gap Between Voters and Policy

Determined to re-engage more Idahoans in civic life, Chenele and Idaho Solutions began hosting statewide lecture series called The More You Know, featuring discussions on topics like immigration, education funding, and civil discourse. Each event draws hundreds of attendees — a testament to the hunger for thoughtful conversation in a time of polarization.

The series has also taken to the road, traveling to communities across Idaho. One of its most popular sessions explores the rise of Christian nationalism, a topic that drew more than 300 participants. Others focus on how to talk across differences — a skill Chenele believes is essential for democracy to function.

“Politics isn’t a bumper sticker issue,” she says. “We can’t solve complex problems if we only ever talk to people who already agree with us.”

Through these conversations, Idaho Solutions connects citizens with policymakers who value problem-solving over partisanship. The group also supports legislators who focus on governing for all their constituents — not just the small share of voters who tend to decide primary elections.

“I’ve heard legislators say they represent the people who voted for them,” Chenele says. “But they’re supposed to represent everyone in their district.”

Why Primary Reform Matters

Chenele’s story is a powerful example of how election systems shape political outcomes. In Idaho, as in much of the country, closed primaries mean that only registered party members can vote — effectively shutting out independents who make up a large share of the electorate.

The result? Candidates cater to the most partisan voters, and legislation drifts away from mainstream priorities. Issues like water infrastructure and public education, which enjoy broad public support in Idaho, often stall or become casualties of ideological purity tests.

Chenele believes that open primaries — where every voter can participate regardless of party — would help ensure that leaders represent their entire constituency, not just the party faithful. She also supports instant runoff elections, which guarantee majority winners and encourage candidates to appeal to a broader cross-section of voters.

“It’s not about helping one side win,” she says. “It’s about making sure everyone’s voice counts.”

Reclaiming Hope — One Conversation at a Time

Chenele’s efforts aren’t about relitigating old campaigns; they’re about rebuilding civic trust. She’s working to remind Idahoans that democracy depends on participation — and that showing up, especially in primary elections, is a powerful act of hope. “Some people feel hopeless watching what’s going on. They say everything feels gross to them. But there are a lot of people who still want Idaho to be successful — who want to get it back to that feeling of neighborliness.”

Her message resonates beyond party lines. At her events, Democrats, independents, and Republicans sit side by side — a reflection of what she calls “the Idaho I know.”

“We used to have that big-tent mindset,” she says, referencing the Ronald Reagan–era Republicanism she grew up with. “You voted for the person, not the party. We’ve lost some of that, but I believe we can get it back.”

For Chenele, the work of building a healthier democracy doesn’t start in the statehouse — it starts in living rooms, libraries, and backyards. “We help our neighbors,” she says, “and we don’t stop to ask their party before we do it.”

As Idaho Solutions continues its outreach, that spirit of neighborliness is rekindling something fundamental: a belief that Idaho — and America — can still come together around shared values, open conversations, and making every voice heard in the elections that matter most.

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Chenele Dixon is the founder and executive director of Idaho Solutions, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization dedicated to strengthening community connections and civic participation across Idaho. A former state representative for District 24A, she draws on her experience as an educator and community leader to foster dialogue and collaboration among Idahoans of all backgrounds