COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Reagan Republicans were shocked when the early results of the non-partisan races trickled in Tuesday night.

About three dozen of them gathered in the back room of the Fedora Pub and Grille to watch the results come in. When the first ones arrived, only two of their candidates - both seeking seats on the Post Falls School Board - were winning.

While they cheered for their Post Falls candidates, the mood changed as the results of the Coeur d'Alene School District and Kootenai Hospital District races came in.

Jeff Ward, co-founder of the Reagan Republicans, said the results were a little confusing. He wasn't sure if the absentee ballots had been counted or if they had started counting precinct votes first.

There is a difference, he said.

"If those are absentees, it would be very difficult for the Reagan Republican candidates to win any of the Coeur d'Alene races," he said. "On the other hand, if those are a couple of precincts in downtown Coeur d'Alene, then it really is no big deal."

Ward could not be reached for comment when the final results came in, but as it turns out, it apparently was a big deal.

Every one of the Reagan Republican-endorsed candidates lost their races in Coeur d'Alene.

"I am elated right now," said Eden Irgens, of Balance North Idaho. "I am not going to lie. I am elated."

The mood at Fort Ground Grill, where Balance supporters celebrated, was in direct contrast to the mood at Fedora. Every time the election results updated, the Fort Ground cheers were deafening.

At one point the crowd even started chanting "Recall Hamilton, Recall Hamilton." Tom Hamilton chairs the Coeur d'Alene School Board.

It was a party and the group couldn't have been happier with the results.

"They drew a line in the sand," said Mic Armon, another BNI board member. "We cannot allow one group to work in a vacuum and dominate our politics anymore."

Both Armon and Irgens said BNI will continue to be active in local political races and they plan to step up their game a bit as the city council elections approach this fall.

They said they plan to stick with their mission and endorse the candidates with the best qualifications for the job regardless of their political affiliations.

"All I have to say about that race is bring it," Irgens said. "We love this city and this community. We will continue to endorse the best possible candidates and if that means endorsing another Reagan Republican, then so be it.

"We are going to stay true to our mission."

Ward said at the beginning of the evening he plans to analyze the results, and get back with The Press at a later date.