Ysursa was admitted to the
Idaho State Bar in 1974. From 1974 to 2003, Ysursa served in the Idaho Secretary of State office under his predecessor,
Pete T. Cenarrusa. He held the positions of Deputy Secretary of State (1974–1976) and Chief Deputy Secretary of State (1976–2003).
Idaho Secretary of State Ysursa was elected Secretary of State in 2002 with 77.5 percent of the vote. He was reelected unopposed in 2006. Ysursa was elected to a third term in 2010, defeating
Democratic nominee Mack Sermon with 74.3 percent of the vote. During his tenure in office, Ysursa was characterized as a
moderate Republican. During the
2014 Idaho gubernatorial election, Ysursa helped incumbent Governor
Butch Otter's reelection campaign. Ysursa did not seek reelection in
2014, instead supporting the unsuccessful candidacy of
Phil McGrane. Ysursa cited a lack of "fire in the belly" for his decision to not seek another term in office. Ysursa left office in 2015 and was succeeded by 2014 election victor
Lawerence Denney. In
2022, Ysursa actively supported McGrane's successful candidacy for Secretary of State.
Later career After leaving office in 2015, Ysursa joined Gallatin Public Affairs in an 'of counsel' position the firm. Ysursa endorsed
Democratic candidate Tom Arkoosh over Republican nominee
Raúl Labrador in the
2022 Idaho Attorney General election. He stated that it was the first time he endorsed a Democrat for office, and that he would have supported incumbent Republican
Lawrence Wasden had he not lost the primary to Labrador. Ysura stated he was "chagrined by those who espouse the ‘
big lie,’” former President
Donald Trump’s
assertion that he actually defeated current President
Joe Biden in the
2020 election". In April 2022, Ysursa joined the
Idaho Statesman editorial board. ==Personal life and recognition==