Lucas Cayler
District 11 House B
2024 Primary - won
2024 General Election - won
Idaho House District 11B | Republican — Far-Right Conservative Activist
Lucas Cayler is the first-term Republican representative for House District 11B, covering Canyon County’s Caldwell area alongside Gang of Eight colleague Kent Marmon in District 11A. A Navy veteran who served from 1999 to 2009 including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Cayler is home-educated and works at Cobalt Truck Equipment, a Nampa-based commercial truck upfitter whose parent company donated $1,000 to his general election campaign. Cayler signed the Gang of Eight’s January 2026 budget pledge and sits on the Health and Welfare Committee, the Commerce and Human Resources Committee, and the Local Government Committee.
Cayler and Clint Hostetler are the Gang of Eight’s lead voices on what they call geoengineering and weather modification legislation — framing rooted in the chemtrails conspiracy theory, which holds that aircraft contrails are chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed on the population. Gang of Eight co-leader Christy Zito wrote publicly that “our Gang of 8 are standing firmly behind two of our members, Representatives Clint Hostetler Jr. and Lucas Cayler, who are working hard to address the problems of weather modification and geoengineering,” and urged supporters to contact legislators on their behalf. The legislation targets cloud seeding programs — a standard agricultural water management tool used across the American West — which the gang voted to reject when they opposed two Senate water infrastructure memorials (SCR117 and SCR118) for endorsing it. Cayler’s H&W Committee assignment puts him on a panel that votes on Medicaid budgets and child welfare programs for a county with one of Idaho’s highest child poverty rates and a large immigrant agricultural labor community.
SFCN Director Maria Nate, documented by InvestigateWest as directing the gang’s votes and scripting members’ floor statements, personally donated $200 to Cayler’s campaign. Arthur Dantchik of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, a national conservative donor who also gave the maximum to Hostetler and Thompson, contributed $1,000. Craig and Carol Sjoberg of Greenleaf contributed $690 and $310 respectively, the same family that also donated to Marmon’s campaign across the two Canyon County Gang of Eight seats. Regence Blueshield contributed $250 to Cayler’s campaign; he sits on the Health and Welfare Committee that oversees Medicaid reimbursement policy affecting health insurers. Cayler raised $15,485 through March 2026. His primary opponent is Debbie Geyer; his November general election opponent is Joshua Preminger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trump supporters in Canyon County’s District 11B should know Cayler’s record on the president. He boycotted Donald Trump’s multiple Idaho events in early 2026 and refused to meet with a lobbyist representing a Trump-owned company because Maria Nate directed the entire Gang of Eight not to. The Idaho Freedom Foundation, which coordinates his votes, scored Trump’s stablecoin bill negative three and its PAC director Dustin Hurst attacks Trump’s agenda publicly every day. The Gang of Eight also backed Nate’s call to defund the Idaho Republican Party — led by Trump ally Dorothy Moon — while labeling any Republican who questioned their record a “RINO.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Gang of Eight support Donald Trump?
No. Cayler boycotted Trump’s Idaho events and refused to meet with a Trump company lobbyist at Nate’s direction. The IFF that scores his votes opposed the stablecoin bill at negative three and its PAC director attacks Trump daily. The gang backed defunding the Idaho GOP, led by Trump ally Dorothy Moon.
What is his military background?
Cayler served in the United States Navy from 1999 to 2009, including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Why is his Health and Welfare Committee assignment notable?
Cayler sits on the H&W Committee, which votes on Medicaid budgets and child welfare programs, while representing Canyon County, one of Idaho’s highest child-poverty counties with a large immigrant agricultural labor community. He signed a pledge to oppose all budget enhancements, which would constrain the same programs his committee oversees.
Who is challenging him?
Debbie Geyer is his Republican primary challenger. Joshua Preminger is the Democratic candidate for the November general election. Full financial disclosures are available at sunshine.sos.idaho.gov.
Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated April 2026.
2024 Primary Election Results
Cayler 1,695 votes / Chaney 1,656 votes
2024 General Election Results Cayler 10,896 votes / Pesina 5,779 votes
News Stories
Lucas Cayler did not respond to requests by the Idaho Statesman editorial board to sit down for an endorsement interview. That made our decision in the District 11B House race easy — but it likely would have been easy regardless.
Sarah Chaney is a well-qualified candidate with good credentials who would be a thoughtful contributor to the House. Although we likely will disagree with several of her decisions and votes, we expect that she would approach problems thoughtfully and with concern for the constituents in her district.
The Editorial Board endorses Chaney for this reason.
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