James Petzke

James Petzke is an American politician and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, Petzke has served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives for district 21A since December 1, 2022.

Early life and education
Petzke was raised in Hailey, Idaho, and graduated from Wood River High School. He earned an associate degree and Bachelor of Arts degree from Boise State University and a Master of Liberal Arts in finance from the Harvard Extension School.

Career
From 2008 to 2011, Petzke worked as an intern in the Blaine County School District. He joined Bodybuilding.com in 2014, working as a SEO specialist and SEO program manager before leaving the company in 2016. Petzke is the co-founder and CEO of Upland Optics, a company that produces sporting optics for hunters.

Idaho House of Representatives (2022-present)
He was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in November 2022. Petzke is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. In the House, Petzke co-wrote Bill 92 alongside Debbie Critchfield, the superintendent of public instruction, which would mandate financial literacy classes in Idaho high schools.