District 24 Republican Primary Set for May 19
Twin Falls County voters will decide a contested Republican primary for District 24 House Seat A when they head to the polls May 19. State Rep. Clint Hostetler, a small business owner serving his first term, faces a challenge from Alexandra Caval, an attorney who came to the United States as a refugee from Romania.
The legislative district covers rural portions of Twin Falls, Gooding, and Camas counties. Hostetler won the seat in 2024 alongside fellow Republicans Sen. Josh Kohl and Rep. David Leavitt in a sweep that shifted the local delegation’s makeup.
Hostetler Defends Conservative Voting Record
Hostetler, who relocated to Idaho from Northern California fewer than five years ago, has aligned himself with a group of lawmakers that opposes new government spending and rejects certain federal funding. The group, which includes Hostetler along with Kohl, Leavitt, and Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, has been dubbed the “Gang of Eight” by political observers.
The four Twin Falls Republicans rank at the top of the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Freedom Index, a scorecard that measures adherence to limited-government principles. Hostetler said the lawmakers made commitments to voters who wanted representatives willing to make difficult fiscal decisions.
“All of us made a commitment to the people that elected us,” Hostetler said in remarks reported by Idaho Education News. “The people that elected us wanted true conservatives to make the hard decisions.”
All eight members of the group face primary challengers this election cycle. Hostetler expressed confidence that the coalition will survive the May contests.
Challenger Questions 2024 Election Results
Caval, who previously ran for the Idaho Senate against Zuiderveld two years ago, has shifted her focus to the House race this cycle. She characterized the 2024 election outcomes differently than the incumbent, suggesting the results did not reflect a genuine shift in Magic Valley Republican sentiment.
According to Caval, the election was influenced by what she described as deceptive tactics from the far-right Magic Valley Liberty Alliance. She framed her campaign as an effort to correct the direction taken after the previous election.
“I think we’re trying to correct course from what happened in 2024,” Caval said in comments reported by Idaho Education News.
The race represents Caval’s second attempt at winning a seat in the Idaho Legislature. Her background as an attorney and her personal story as a former refugee give her campaign a distinct profile in the conservative-leaning district.
What This Primary Means for Magic Valley
The May 19 primary will determine which Republican advances to the general election in November. In heavily Republican District 24, the primary winner typically faces limited opposition in the fall.
The contest is part of a broader set of competitive Republican primaries across Idaho this year, with several incumbent lawmakers facing challenges from candidates who question the direction of the current legislative leadership. The outcome in Twin Falls could signal whether voters support the fiscal approach championed by Hostetler and his allies or prefer a different governing philosophy.
Voter turnout in primary elections typically runs lower than general elections, meaning engaged party members often have outsized influence in determining nominees. Idaho uses a closed primary system, so only registered Republicans can vote in this race.
What Comes Next
The Republican primary election takes place May 19. Registered Republican voters in District 24 can check their voter information and polling locations through the Idaho Secretary of State’s website. Early voting and absentee ballot options are available for those unable to vote on election day.
The general election is scheduled for November, though the Republican nominee will be heavily favored in this conservative-leaning district. Campaign finance reports and additional candidate information are available through the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.
Idaho Education News is profiling competitive legislative races throughout the state ahead of the primary. Additional candidate information and election coverage can be found on the outlet’s elections webpage.