Risch vs. Achilles: Idaho U.S. Senate Health Positions Scored on the Evidence-Base Rubric

 

PsyPAC Oct 5, 2026  

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Scorecard

Risch and Achilles tie on the overall score at 2.5 out of 5 for different reasons. Risch’s evidence is votes and releases on the ACA, Medicaid and abortion, but his Senate website has no health care page; Achilles has a detailed campaign platform that covers all four topics and no federal record. Scores (0 to 5) measure how specific and well-sourced each position is, not whether the policy is good. Confidence follows the rubric: High, Medium or Low. This version rests on sources I opened in full; several scores moved from my first draft (see Revisions below).

​[ A ]

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​The overall score is the average of the four criterion scores, weighted equally; overall confidence is the lowest of the four criterion confidences. Sub-scores, evidence tiers and sources are in the sections below. Evidence is as of October 5, 2026.

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1. Overall approach to health care

Risch: 3 (High). Achilles: 3 (Medium). Risch’s evidence is a vote and releases; Achilles’ is a campaign platform.

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[ B ]

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2. Reproductive rights

Risch: 2 (Medium). Achilles: 3 (Medium). Risch’s only reproductive rights evidence is on abortion; Achilles’ support for Proposition 1 reaches contraception, IVF and maternal care by endorsement.

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[ C ]

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​​3. Cost of prescription medications

Risch: 3 (Medium). Achilles: 2 (Medium). Risch has co-sponsored pricing bills; Achilles’ platform has two items.​

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[ D ] 

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​​​4. Access to mental wellness programs

Risch: 2 (Medium). Achilles: 2 (Medium). Neither has a program, funding or vote.

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​[ E ]

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Gaps, conflicts and caveats

These scores rest on the sources listed below as of October 5, 2026. Bold numbers are 0 to 5 sub-scores for that row; tier numbers refer to the rubric’s evidence tiers.

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Sources

 

• Idaho Capital Sun: Risch v. Achilles, KPVI interview with Achilles and Achilles campaign platform

• Smarter.vote: Achilles (AI-generated summary, used only as a lead)

• Risch releases: ACA vote, 2009, 2025 budget law, Dobbs, 2022, drug prices, 2021 and drug prices, 2019; issue pages Putting Families First and Serving Veterans

• AFL-CIO scorecard: Risch (advocacy source) and Crapo column on suicide prevention

• Seen in search only: KTVB voter guide, Post Register, Idaho Statesman via Yahoo, Lewiston Tribune, Coeur d’Alene Press, Magic Valley opinion and Congressional Record index