COEUR d'ALENE - The formation of a new group, Idaho Federation of Reagan Republicans, was announced Thursday by the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans.

The local group is now the only county chapter in Idaho, but KCRR President Jeff Ward expects that to change.

He said KCRR has heard from people in other counties, including Bonner, Canyon and Ada, who have wanted to join the Reagan Republicans, or start their own group.

They couldn't, until now.

Now, there is a blueprint for them to follow, and a state organization for the chapters to connect to.

"We're three years old now. We waited because we wanted to make sure we had a model that works," Ward told The Press.

The big motivation, Ward said, is the upcoming November election.

Conservative and Republican voting is strong in Kootenai County, he said, but not so much in Idaho's other counties.

In November, all seven KCRR-backed candidates won seats in three different cities.

KCRR membership floats between 100 and 150, but there is strong support from non-members, Ward said.

On its Facebook page, the group has 241 members, many from throughout the state.

"Hopefully, they'll join the state organization as an at-large member, or be able to join a local chapter," Ward said.