Carlos Hernandez

Carlos Hernandez: Idaho Republican Challenger for House District 11A

Carlos Hernandez is a Republican challenger running for the Idaho House of Representatives in District 11A. He lives in Caldwell and is challenging first-term Republican incumbent Kent Marmon in the May 19, 2026 primary.

Background

Carlos Hernandez grew up in Moses Lake, Washington. His professional background is in finance and project management. According to BoiseDev, previous roles have included working in the office of Eastern Washington University's Vice President of Business and Finance and Chief Financial Officer. As of that reporting, he was working as a project controller and chief of staff for an electrical infrastructure company, managing multimillion-dollar projects. In Caldwell, Hernandez served on the board of Caldwell Fine Arts, an organization affiliated with the College of Idaho, and was appointed to the city's downtown parking advisory board. He also volunteered with Leadership Spokane and served on Eastern Washington University's Alumni Association Board, according to BoiseDev.

Political Career

Hernandez has not previously held elected office. In November 2025, he ran for Caldwell City Council Seat 1 in a nonpartisan race. He finished third among four candidates, receiving 28.6 percent of the vote, as reported by BoiseDev. Scott Tilmant won the seat with 37.7 percent. Hernandez and second-place finisher Brandon Weast were separated by fewer than 30 votes. Hernandez subsequently filed to run against Marmon in the House District 11A Republican primary, according to Idaho Education News.

Policy Positions

Hernandez's campaign website states that District 11 deserves "a representative who fights for real results on property taxes, public schools, and economic opportunity," framing his candidacy around fiscally responsible governance rather than "ideological scorecards." On housing, he supports balanced development that protects existing neighborhoods while expanding options for working families, with community input, infrastructure readiness, and long-term affordability guiding local decision-making. During his 2025 city council campaign, he told the Idaho Press that his focus is ensuring growth happens within the city rather than pushing outward to urban sprawl. On education, his platform supports predictable K-12 funding, quality classroom resources, and expanded career and technical education that prepares students for Idaho's workforce. On economic growth, he calls for development that focuses on workforce development, sustainable planning, and partnerships between local government and industry. On transportation, he supports investments in roads and public safety infrastructure to ensure development does not outpace community services. On agriculture and water, he supports policies that protect Idaho's farming heritage while addressing modern challenges around water management and land use, calling for collaboration between farmers, cities, and the state. On healthcare, he supports improving access to care in both urban and rural communities, strengthening local healthcare systems, and expanding mental health resources.

Political Alignment

Hernandez's platform's emphasis on predictable school funding, balanced growth, healthcare access, and rejection of "ideological scorecards" positions him closer to the pragmatic, governance-oriented end of the Republican spectrum. Based on available evidence, he appears aligned with Traditional Conservative Republican positioning.

Campaign and Endorsements

As of April 2026, no endorsements for Hernandez's House District 11A campaign have been publicly reported.