Just before Thanksgiving, I witnessed the KCRCC make a shocking choice that said more about their priorities than any speech ever could.
Every February, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) holds its Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser. This is the same official Republican party group that sends out those red “rated and vetted” candidate cards telling you who to vote for in every election.
The KCRCC has announced that the Lincoln Day Dinner 2026 will feature Matt Gaetz as the keynote speaker. They’re selling high-dollar tables and VIP tickets so people can have their picture taken with him.
Matt Gaetz is the man investigated by Congress for paying an underage girl for sex, using cocaine, regularly paying for sex, and sex trafficking. When Congress was about to release its results (which you can read in the House Ethics Committee report), he resigned in a deal that kept the findings from the public.
Later, Gaetz was nominated to be Attorney General of the United States. Even with a Republican Senate, he couldn’t secure enough votes to be confirmed because of the ethical questions surrounding his behavior. President Trump wisely withdrew the nomination in favor of Pam Bondi.
In the last couple of weeks, the public has learned more. We learned that the 17-year-old girl was homeless and needed the money to pay for braces. We learned that she was offered cocaine and ecstasy. We learned that Gaetz laughed about having sex with her in front of the other partiers. We learned that she was paid $400.
As of this writing, Matt Gaetz has not been convicted of these crimes. That fact doesn’t answer the more basic question: Does inviting him to headline the local Republican Party fundraiser represent traditional Republican values?
The KCRCC is the official Republican Party organization in Kootenai County, made up of Precinct Committeemen from 74 neighborhoods, each elected by local Republican voters.
The current chairman, Brent Regan, was chosen by the majority of PCs who remain loyal to him. About 28 of the current PCs, however, are affiliated with the North Idaho Republicans (NIR), a group of traditional conservatives who opposed Regan’s chairmanship.
I was in attendance at the Tuesday, November 25th KCRCC meeting when NIR PC Marc Stewart raised the question of reconsidering Matt Gaetz as the keynote speaker.
When Marc asked the body to reconsider, every single one of the North Idaho Republican PCs present and elected in 2024 stood to show they were willing to re-evaluate having Gaetz as the keynote.
Standing to refuse to reconsider Gaetz, not even discussing the possibility that they had made a mistake, were the remaining KCRCC members present, with the exceptions of Rob Barrans and Dan Fry, and one abstention.
Stewart’s motion failed. Gaetz was not reconsidered.
Lincoln Day is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the KCRCC, and money raised is used to support their “rated and vetted” candidates. Anyone purchasing a ticket or table will be listed in Idaho’s Sunshine Reports, making it easy to see the donors who support this event with Matt Gaetz.
If the KCRCC no longer reflects your values, you have options. Running for Precinct Committeeman this May is the most direct way to change our local Republican Party from within. And if you’re considering a run—or just want to help—reach out to the North Idaho Republicans. They’re already in the fight for traditional conservative values and can help you get involved.
https://www.northidahorepublicans.org/
About the Author
Russell Mann is a member of the North Idaho Republicans, a small business owner, and a community volunteer.
Well stated, Russell.
The KCRCC is just a group of immoral renegades. In light of matt gaetz’s behavior, I find it stunning that anyone in the country would invite him to any gathering. The guy is radioactive!