Six of Idaho’s statewide elected officials headlined a North Idaho Republicans America 250 celebration Thursday night in Coeur d’Alene, underscoring a notable show of support for the group amid ongoing GOP divisions in North Idaho.
“Let’s keep Idaho Idaho,” Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke told the crowd.
North Idaho Republicans bills itself as a “traditional” group of Republicans in opposition to the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, the official branch of the party in the Coeur d’Alene area.
Jim Price, head of NIR, told the crowd he wants to create an “organized, welcoming space,” including for newcomers to the state.
“Don’t change Idaho, let Idaho change you,” Price said.
The now-resolved North Idaho College accreditation fight was central to the battle between the two arms of the Republican Party. The KCRCC, led by Brent Regan, who also chairs the board of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, has drawn criticism in recent years for promoting hardline candidates.
The KCRCC supported a slate of “Make NIC Great Again” candidates but ultimately lost to a trio of candidates backed by the North Idaho Republicans.
For the last few years, candidates aligned with the North Idaho Republicans have run against Regan loyalists for precinct committee positions in hopes of making the committee more inclusive for all Republican voices.
Read more on the KCRCC’s impact on school trustee races here.
In his speech, Gov. Brad Little praised the group for its efforts to change the tide at NIC and encouraged them to continue in May.
“You can do it. You’ve done it before and you can do it again,” Little said. “You’ve got some incredible candidates for precinct committee person.”
Attorney General Raúl Labrador was the sole constitutional officer not present at the event.
Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Controller Brandon Woolf and Treasurer Julie Ellsworth all spoke, encouraging voters to turn out to the Republican primary in May.
McGrane noted that more than 60% of Idaho voters are Republicans, meaning many races are effectively decided in the primary before the November election.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield attended the event but left before her scheduled speech to catch a flight back to Boise.
The broad show of support for the North Idaho Republicans from state-level officials marks a departure from past races.
The presence of the press at the event is also a departure from KCRCC and state-Republican tactics, which have barred journalists in recent years at both celebratory events and the state convention.
