On the November 3 ballot
School & fire levies
We support:
- Coeur d’Alene School District 271
- Post Falls School District 273
- Kootenai Joint School District 274
- Northern Lakes Fire Protection District
- Spirit Lake Fire Protection District
Republican leadership.
North Idaho values.
We are your neighbors. Builders, not destroyers, working to keep North Idaho strong for generations, the Idaho way.
📍Harrison · Bald eagleHarrisonIdaho, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
On the November 3 ballot
Recommended candidates
We recommend:
- Tarie Zimmerman, North Idaho College Trustee Zone 1
- Brad Corkill, North Idaho College Trustee Zone 2
- Our statewide candidates, including Governor Brad Little
- Vote Republican for the Legislature and county offices
Vote Nov. 3
Oct 19Oct 23Oct 30Nov 3
- Oct 19–30 Early voting, Mon–Fri 8 am–5 pm
- Oct 23, 5 pm Last day to register and request an absentee ballot
- Nov 3 Election Day, polls 8 am–8 pm
Updates itself if a date changes.
The May primary decides North Idaho
In North Idaho, the May Republican primary most often determines who actually wins in November.
Far fewer people vote in it, so every vote counts more.
May primary, average since 2000
27%
November general, non-presidential years
54%
November general, presidential years
87%
Share of registered voters in Kootenai County. Source: Kootenai County voter turnout
More voting links
November 3 election informationEarly voting Oct. 19–30, Election Day Nov. 3 (Kootenai County)2026 sample ballotRecommended candidates by name, statewide measures and leviesRegister to voteCheck or update your registration (Idaho Secretary of State)Request an absentee ballotVote from home. Request by 5 p.m. Oct. 23Find your precinct and poll siteWhere do I vote?Kootenai County precinct mapCounty PDF map of all precinctsIndividual precinct mapsCounty PDF, one map per precinct
What matters most to you?
Pick the issue that matters most for North Idaho.
News & Columns
Columns and news from members of North Idaho Republicans, newest first.
Christa Hazel · Oct 10, 2026 · Archived copy
North Idaho College is proof voting worksKey facts (5)
- NIC came within a single step of losing its accreditation: leadership churned, lawsuits dragged on, millions of dollars were wasted, and the college's insurance carrier walked away.
- Voters began changing the board in 2022 (Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman) and finished in 2024 (Rick Durbin, Eve Knudtsen and Mary Havercroft).
- NIC graduates add more than $270 million to the local economy and support close to 4,000 jobs.
- Corkill and Zimmerman are on the November ballot again, running unopposed.
- Early in-person voting at the Elections Office on Third Street in Coeur d'Alene starts Oct. 19; Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3; absentee ballots can be requested at VoteIdaho.gov.
Jonathan Burns · Oct 10, 2026 · Archived copy
Support our public schoolsKey facts (4)
- Says the Legislative District 4 Republican Central Committee, whose chair wrote the column, voted by a majority to formally endorse the Coeur d'Alene School District levy.
- Says the levy would replace the expiring supplemental levy and run through June 30, 2029, at an increase of $5.25 million per year over the levy it replaces.
- Says the levy covers rising costs for insurance, utilities, fuel and supplies, and also funds teachers and classroom staff, school resource officers, nurses, KTEC career and technical education, and student programs.
- Argues that the district performs well on standardized tests at a cost per student below the national average, and urges a YES vote in November.
Becky Funk · Oct 9, 2026 · Archived copy
“Supplemental” in name onlyKey facts (4)
- On Nov. 3, voters in the Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls school districts decide on replacement supplemental levies, each for two years.
- Coeur d'Alene is asking for $30.25 million per year to replace its current $25 million annual levy, which is about one fourth of the district's operating budget.
- Post Falls is asking for $6.78 million a year for safety and security, counseling and nursing, extracurriculars, KTEC, literacy and behavioral-support staff, salaries and two buses.
- The column urges voters to look at the numbers and where the money goes, and asks whether levies that pay for the basics are really "supplemental."
Becky Funk · Oct 2, 2026 · Archived copy
The ties that bind us — How Flock cameras and data centers are uniting the right and the leftKey facts (4)
- Controversy over Flock cameras and large data centers is producing agreement across party lines: conservatives worried about government overreach and liberals concerned about civil liberties.
- A North Idaho mayor publicly distinguished the city's limited use of Motorola license plate readers from Flock's surveillance network, and questioned Idaho's data retention requirements.
- A proposed AI data center in Pocatello has prompted debate over electricity costs, water resources and environmental impacts.
- The question the column says people on both sides are asking: who stands to gain, who pays the price, and who gets to decide?
Republican Reader
Who we are
We are North Idaho Republicans.
We are your neighbors. We are parents, business owners, workers, educators & community volunteers.
North Idaho Republicans (NIR) is a regional Republican association of longtime local Republicans, a group with traditional Republican values. We believe North Idaho was built on conservative values, personal responsibility, and hard work. We worked together to build schools, a great medical network, a strong community college, and a core of businesses, both small and large, that provide economic stability. We believe this was a winning combination for all that can only be protected and restored by electing qualified candidates who share these conservative values.
Our 10 principles
- 01Honesty & integrity in public service
- 02Personal responsibility & individual liberty
- 03Faith, family, & strong communities
- 04Respect for the Constitution & rule of law
- 05Free enterprise & economic opportunity
- 06Equal rights & opportunity for all
- 07Limited, accountable government
- 08Fiscal responsibility & stewardship
- 09Protection of life & human dignity
- 10Defending our 1st & 2nd Amendment freedoms
Get involved
Stay informed
News and election reminders.
Support NIR
North Idaho Republicans (NIR) is an association.
Donate to NIROr by mail: PO Box 2895, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816
Questions
What is North Idaho Republicans?
North Idaho Republicans (NIR) is an association. We are parents, business owners, workers, educators and community volunteers. To ensure that the future Republican Party stands for the traditional conservative Republican values of supporting our democratic republic, families, economic prosperity, personal responsibility, honesty, hard work & quality education.
How do I vote in the November 3, 2026 election in Kootenai County?
Early voting runs October 19 to October 30 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The deadline to pre-register and to request an absentee ballot is October 23 at 5 p.m. Election Day is November 3 and polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Register or check your registration at voteidaho.gov, and find your polling place through the Idaho Secretary of State.
What is the Republican Reader?
North Idaho Republicans publishes the Republican Reader. You can read the current issue page by page online, or see past issues.
Where can I read columns by North Idaho Republicans members?
The News page lists columns and news written by members of North Idaho Republicans, newest first. Each item links to the original publication.
What is NIR PAC?
North Idaho Republicans PAC [NIR PAC] is an Idaho Political Action Committee. Its ballot recommendations are published at nirpac.org.
How can I get involved with North Idaho Republicans?
Sign up for email updates on the home page, email us to talk to friends, take literature to neighbors, place a yard sign or make phone calls, or donate. Our mailing address is PO Box 2895, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816.