Achilles in the Senate
No, not that one, though I’m definitely going to see the Odyssey when it comes out in a few weeks. Chris Nolan remains one of our greatest movie directors until proven otherwise. He made the Dark Knight and Inception. Tenet . . . we’ll pretend that one didn’t happen.
I’m talking about Todd Achilles, candidate for U.S. Senate out of Idaho. Yes, that’s his real name.
Todd is running as an Independent after serving as a state legislator in Boise. “I served the country as a tank commander in the U.S. Army,” Todd says. “Running for Senate is another way to serve.”
Todd has done just about everything under the sun since returning from deployment to Kuwait 20-odd years ago. He got his MBA and became a senior telecom executive. He later became a public policy professor. Most recently, he was appointed as a state legislator in Idaho by the Democratic Governor. “I was one of 9 Democratic legislators in the state house,” Todd observes. “There were 61 Republicans, so you get used to being in the minority to say the least.”
Yet Todd notes that the vast majority of Idaho voters are frustrated. “Most Idahoans are just struggling to get by and they’re increasingly fed up. They’re not getting any kind of real results.” Many are farmers whose costs went up because of the Trump tariffs.
The Republican incumbent is an 83-year-old Senator named Jim Risch. Yes, he’s 83 now and trying to run again. “He hasn’t done a single public town hall in 18 years,” Todd says. It’s a classic case of a DC legislator being completely insulated from any real competition.
“Our polling shows us well ahead of the incumbent after people find out about me,” Todd says. “I’m a numbers guy and we have a clear path to win.” His most common conversation with Idaho voters goes like this:
“Hey, I’m Todd Achilles. I’m running for Senate.”
Idaho voter – “Really? What party are you?”
Todd – “Neither. I’m running as an Independent.”
Voter pauses. “I like it. I’ll support you. We need someone like you.”
It’s a familiar pattern. In Idaho, running as a Democrat is a waste of time; Trump won the state by 36.5% over Harris in ’24, for example. But anti-D.C. sentiment runs high. And Todd is tapping into that.
“I’ve pledged not to caucus with either party in D.C.” Todd says. “Voters here know that they haven’t gotten results and they’re open to a different approach.” If Todd can break through, it would be enormous not just for Idaho but for the country.
I told him he should make an ad patterned after Brad Pitt in Troy: “Independence – Take it, It’s YOURS!!!!” Idaho only has 2 million people, but its Senate vote counts the same as any other state’s. This is an overlooked race and a big opportunity.
For my convo with Todd Achilles, Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Idaho, click here. I’ve donated to Todd’s campaign and I hope you’ll check him out and consider supporting him too. If Todd wins, he would have achieved immortality. To check out Forward Party candidates in your area, click here. To get a copy of “Hey Yang, Where’s My Thousand Bucks?” click here and use the code “UBIUBI” for 25% off. I’m doing a book talk in LA on July 22nd. For 3 months off your mobile bill with Noble Mobile, click here or email matt@noblemobile.com and use my name to switch or explore. Look up this summer.