Helen Chenoweth Helen P. Chenoweth-Hage (born January 27, 1938) is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Idaho. Chenoweth was born in Topeka, Kansas and attended Whitworth College. After graduating, she worked as a manager and consultant at various medical enterprises, and then entered political work. She married Nick Chenoweth of Orofino, Idaho in 1958. They had two children, Michael Chenoweth and Margaret Chenoweth. They divorced in 1975 and Chenoweth moved to Boise, Idaho. From 1975-77, she was executive director of the Idaho Republican Party; after this, she worked as a chief of staff and campaign manager for 1st District Congressman Steve Symms. After this job, she returned to the private sector. She became a noteworthy lobbyist in Idaho's capital city.
In 1994, Chenoweth won the Republican nomination for Idaho's 1st District, located in the western part of the state and based in Boise. She pledged to serve no more than three terms in the House of Representatives if elected. She defeated two-term Democratic incumbent Larry LaRocco by almost 11 points in the Republican wave that saw that party take control of the House for the first time in 40 years. While Chenoweth's victory was one of many instances of historically Republican districts reverting to form after being held by Democrats, it was still somewhat surprising considering that LaRocco had won reelection in 1992 by almost 21 points.
