Faye Thompson

Faye Thompson: Idaho Republican Representative for House District 8B

Faye Thompson is a first-term Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 8B, a four-county district in west-central Idaho covering Valley, Boise, Custer, and Elmore counties. She is based in McCall and assumed office on December 1, 2024. Thompson is running for re-election in the May 19, 2026, Republican primary against challenger Brian Beckley of Glenns Ferry. Democrat Jared Dawson is the general election candidate for November 3, 2026.

Background

Thompson is a third-generation Idahoan who has lived in Valley County since 1972 and in McCall since 1976, as documented in her legislative biography. She and her husband, Valley County Commissioner Neal Thompson, have been married for more than three decades and have four adult children and eleven grandchildren. Thompson earned a business administration degree from ITT Tech. She has owned and operated an electrical contracting business in Valley County since 1992.

Her community involvement includes volunteer work with the Red Cross and Heartland Hunger Resources, and service as a pastor’s assistant, as noted on her campaign website. She is a Life Member of the NRA and has served as secretary-treasurer of Heartland Friends of NRA. Before her election to the House, Thompson served as chair of the Valley County Republican Central Committee, a role documented by KIVI-TV and the Idaho press.

Political Career

Thompson won her seat in the May 2024 Republican primary by defeating then-House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma by approximately 2.6 percentage points, 4,361 votes to 4,140. Blanksma had already been removed from her leadership position earlier that session after a dispute with Speaker Mike Moyle over the Legislature’s shift to a maintenance-and-enhancement budget framework. In the November 2024 general election, Thompson defeated Democrat Jared Dawson and Constitution Party candidate Tony Ullrich with 16,546 votes to Dawson’s 6,702 and Ullrich’s 1,111.

Thompson is a member of the Gang of Eight, a bloc of conservative Idaho legislators affiliated with the State Freedom Caucus Network (SFCN). In January 2026, she signed the group’s budget pledge to oppose all state spending enhancements during the 2026 legislative session. She serves on the Business Environment, Energy and Technology committee and the Health and Welfare committee, per the Idaho Legislature’s official records.

In her first term, Thompson earned a 94.7% score on the Idaho Freedom Foundation Freedom Index and a score of 35 from the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, reflecting her alignment with the activist conservative bloc rather than the business-aligned wing of the Idaho Republican Party. She has signed the Citizens Alliance of Idaho pledge, as documented by the Gem State Chronicle.

Policy Positions

Thompson’s documented legislative priorities center on fiscal restraint, tax reduction, and social conservatism. On spending, she has consistently argued that Idaho’s state budget has grown unsustainably, noting in her 2024 campaign that the budget grew from approximately $6 billion to $14 billion over six years, as outlined on her campaign website. Her January 2026 Gang of Eight budget pledge commits her to voting only for budgets that hold spending flat or reduce it from the prior year.

On taxes, Thompson has called for lowering property taxes, particularly for seniors on fixed incomes, and for repealing Idaho’s sales tax on groceries. On education, she supports universal school choice, as she stated in an interview with KIVI-TV ahead of the 2024 general election. She also called for restoring Idaho’s March presidential primary, which was eliminated in 2023, arguing that Idaho voters deserve a voice in the presidential nomination process. On social issues, Thompson describes herself as pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-border security, per her campaign website.

Political Alignment

Thompson is classified as a Far-Right Extremist. She was elected with the backing of the State Freedom Caucus Network and is a documented member of the Gang of Eight, the Idaho legislative bloc that has publicly affiliated with the SFCN and pledged to vote against all state spending enhancements. Her 2025 IFF Freedom Index score of 94.7% and Citizens Alliance of Idaho pledge place her at the far-right edge of the Idaho House Republican caucus. Her election to office came directly at the expense of one of the most senior House leaders — then-Majority Leader Megan Blanksma — reflecting the activist network’s strategy of targeting traditional conservative Republican legislators from the right.

Thompson is coordinated through SFCN Director Maria Nate, who was recorded by InvestigateWest directing members’ votes and scripting their floor statements. Nate personally donated $200 to Thompson’s campaign. Thompson also received support from national conservative donor Arthur Dantchik of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and from county Republican central committees in Boise and Custer counties.

Campaign and Endorsements

Thompson’s 2026 campaign has received support from the Idaho Freedom PAC and the Citizens Alliance of Idaho, among others. Her 2026 primary challenger Brian Beckley of Glenns Ferry raised $31,270 through early 2026 compared to Thompson’s $9,020, a more-than-three-to-one fundraising disadvantage for the incumbent. Thompson’s campaign website is fayethompson4idaho.com.

FAQ

Who is Faye Thompson? Faye Thompson is a first-term Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives representing District 8B. She is a third-generation Idahoan from McCall who defeated then-House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma in the 2024 Republican primary. She is a member of the Gang of Eight and is running for re-election in the May 2026 primary.

What district does Faye Thompson represent? Thompson represents Idaho House District 8B, which covers Valley, Boise, Custer, and Elmore counties in west-central Idaho. It is the geographically largest legislative district in the state.

Is Faye Thompson an incumbent? Yes. Thompson is a first-term incumbent serving since December 1, 2024, and is seeking her second term in the 2026 election cycle.

What committees does Faye Thompson serve on? Thompson serves on the Business Environment, Energy and Technology committee and the Health and Welfare committee.

What has Faye Thompson accomplished or sponsored in the Idaho Legislature? Thompson signed the Gang of Eight’s January 2026 budget pledge to oppose all state spending enhancements. She has advocated for property tax relief, repeal of the grocery sales tax, universal school choice, and fiscal restraint. Her 2025 IFF Freedom Index score of 94.7% reflects consistent voting with the activist conservative bloc on budget and policy bills.

2024 Primary Election Results Thompson 4,361 / Blanksma 4,140

2024 General Election Results Thompson 16,546 / Dawson 6,702 / Ullrich 1,111

Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.