Malepeai previously served on the Pocatello City Council and as chair of the Bannock County Democratic Party. He was first elected to the Idaho Senate in 2002 with 64.6 percent of the vote.[3] He ran unopposed for reelection in 2004, 2006 and 2008.[4][5][6] Malepeai also has previous service representing Idaho on the Democratic National Committee.[7]
Malepeai missed the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions while caring for his wife, Brenda, who suffered from a rare form of cancer. Brenda Malepeai died in March 2009.[8]
In 2010 Malepeai faced Republican opposition for the first time since his initial state senate run eight years earlier. Malepeai was reelected to a fifth term with 54.6 percent of the vote.[9] Malepeai was not a candidate for reelection in 2012.