A newly elected Idaho mayor collapsed and died while speaking at a town hall on Wednesday evening, March 18, 2026, despite frantic CPR attempts by another mayor who rushed to help.
Rick Hogaboam, 47, experienced a medical emergency around 6:45 p.m. during a Treasure Valley Partnership town hall at Eagle City Hall. The Nampa mayor was delivering remarks when his speech became slurred and he suddenly fell to the ground in front of stunned colleagues and attendees.
Eagle Mayor Brad Pike, a former firefighter seated to Hogaboam’s right, immediately responded and began CPR. He was assisted by Eagle’s police chief, who was at the event. Police, firefighters, and paramedics arrived quickly, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
After first responders worked on Hogaboam for about an hour, representatives from the Ada County Coroner’s Office came to the scene. The city announced his death at 8:40 p.m.
The tragic incident happened just over two months after Hogaboam had taken office as Nampa’s 31st mayor. He was sworn in on January 5, 2026, after winning the November 2025 election with 62.9 percent of the vote against three opponents.
Caldwell Mayor Eric Phillips also suffered a separate medical issue while at the town hall. Phillips was treated outside the venue and transported by Ada County Paramedics for what appeared to be an unrelated condition. By Thursday morning, city officials said Phillips was “doing well.”
Pike spoke to reporters outside Eagle City Hall Wednesday night, recalling the traumatic moments. “Good, bad or indifferent, I was the last person in his life that was touching him when he passed,” Pike told KTVB.
The cause of Hogaboam’s death has not been released and remains under investigation.
A Republican and father of five, Hogaboam devoted many years to public service in Nampa and Canyon County. He moved to Nampa from western New York in 2008 and remained an avid Buffalo Bills fan.
Before becoming mayor, Hogaboam served as chief of staff to former Mayor Debbie Kling from 2020 to 2023. His public roles also included time as a city councilman, a substitute Idaho state senator in 2021, and Canyon County clerk overseeing the county’s budget and elections. He had also been a senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa.
Hours before he died, Hogaboam attended a training with the Nampa Fire Department and later described the day as “beautiful” in a Facebook post.
Messages of condolence came from across Idaho politics. Governor Brad Little called the loss “heartbreaking,” saying Hogaboam “served with a real heart for public service and dedication to the community.”
The Idaho GOP lauded Hogaboam as “everything we want our political leaders to be.” Secretary of State Phil McGrane said he was “heartbroken,” noting their close work when Hogaboam served as Canyon County Clerk.
Former Mayor Debbie Kling, who had endorsed Hogaboam as her successor, said she was “deeply grieved and saddened” by his death and described him as “a talented, smart leader who served with integrity and a servant’s heart.”
The City of Nampa asked residents to keep Hogaboam’s family in their prayers. The Treasure Valley Partnership offered condolences, calling him an outstanding public servant, devoted family man, and true friend.
Nampa City Council president David Bills is acting mayor. The council will appoint an interim mayor to serve until a special mayoral election in November.
Hogaboam is survived by his wife Mimi, five children, and a grandchild.