Newly-elected mayor collapses and dies suddenly during Town Hall meeting oan

OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
1:56 PM – Friday, March 20, 2026

The newly-elected mayor of Idaho’s third-largest city has tragically passed away after suffering a medical emergency. He was speaking at a town hall gathering at the time.

Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboam, 47, collapsed on Wednesday during a Treasure Valley Partnership town hall in Eagle, Idaho.

Hogaboam, a Republican elected this past November, was just four months into his term when the medical emergency occurred. Eagle Mayor Brad Pike and Police Chief Travis Ruby immediately rushed to his aid as the room fell into shock.

The next day, on Thursday, the City of Eagle released a statement on Facebook in relation to the matter.

“Mayor Pike, a former firefighter, was the first to spring into action; Eagle Police Chief Ruby was only seconds behind him,” the city recounted. “911 was called, CPR was administered, EMS arrived promptly, but their efforts were, sadly, unsuccessful.”

The Ada County Coroner’s Office confirmed Hogaboam’s death on Thursday, identifying the cause as cardiac tamponade.

A cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency where the sac surrounding the heart has a buildup of fluid, blood or pus, preventing it from filling properly and causing a dangerous drop in blood pressure. An individual experiencing this may suffer sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, a rapid heart rate and fainting. It has a variety of causes, including a chest injury, cancer, tuberculosis, bacterial infection, a heart attack and complications from invasive cardiac procedures.

Hogaboam previously served as the Canyon County Clerk, chief of staff to the previous Nampa Mayor, Debbie Kling, Nampa councilman, and substitute Idaho state senator, according to his city biography. He was the city’s 31^st mayor.

The biography noted that Hogaboam was a husband, father and grandfather who was deeply “committed to a vision for Nampa where families thrive in a community where citizens are proud to live, work, eat, play, and worship.”

“The short bio below doesn’t even begin to capture the life and work of Mayor Rick Hogaboam, but it is a statement he wrote and reflects his abilities, priorities and character. He will be tremendously missed,” it added.

 

The morning after Hogaboam’s passing, an emotional Idaho Senate Chaplain Doug Armstrong also honored the mayor before the state legislature. Armstrong highlighted a lesser-known chapter of Hogaboam’s life, describing his decade of service as a senior pastor and his leadership as the executive director of the Lifeline Pregnancy Center.

“I knew Rick and the most important thing in his life was his relationship with Jesus Christ and his family,” Armstrong said. “He was a man of deep faith.”

The state senator then dedicated a prayer to the late mayor, his wife, Mimi, their five children, and their grandchild.