SANDPOINT — Karen Matthee, the lone Democratic candidate, is running for the District 1 Senate seat in the Idaho State Legislature. 

Matthee, a former journalist, said she is running because she feels that the state legislature is run by a Republican super majority that isn’t focused on the issues that matter to Idahoans. She said she promised supporters last election that she wouldn’t be one and done and continue fighting to raise awareness of the issues. 

“I do feel that we've got to chip away,” Matthee said of the legislative super majority. “Even though the numbers may not be here for me right now, we've got to keep chipping away and keep the Dems in there.” 

Matthee said she was displeased with the current legislature’s focus on “culture war” issues, like the bill that banned the LGBTQ+ flag in Boise. She said she believes those bills trample local autonomy, which if elected, is something that she would seek to protect. 

During her first election in 2024, Matthee said she heard that residents were far more concerned with cost-of-living issues, like affordable housing and the rising price of healthy food. She also pinned the blame for the current state budget cuts on the $450 million tax cut and $50 million private school voucher system that the state legislature approved in 2025. 

“The budget is a huge deal because it's related to the cost of living,” Matthee said. “I feel that's like, why? Why can't we afford to buy oranges? Or why do we have to stand there and decide, am I going to buy this or am I going to buy that? Because it's outrageous and there’s a reason we got to where we are.” 

Matthee said she would work on legislation to bring OBGYN doctors back to Bonner County and has collected signatures for ballot initiatives in the past. She said protecting Medicare expansion, which has been a constant target during budget discussions, would be a priority for her as well. 

“I am the only candidate who is very out loud and proud in supporting the reproductive rights initiative,” Matthee said. “I don't think you'll find any other candidate that will say that at this point, and I'm proud of that. That is the only way we are going to change our stop doctors from leaving this only way.” 

While most voters in District 1 are registered Republicans, Matthee said she choose to run as a democrat to rebuild the party’s status in the region and bring attention to issues that would be ignored otherwise. She said prior democratic candidates were more placeholders, rather than drivers of conversation. 

Matthee said she sees her campaign and her role as the acting chair of the Bonner County Democrats, as a way to continue pushing the district’s discourse and while it might not change much this legislative session, it leaves the door open for future Democratic candidates.  

“Not a lot of people know what we’ve been doing, because we have to kind of keep a low profile, but I'm not doing that anymore,” Matthee said. “That's kind of been, my goal, and it aligns with my goal as a candidate, is to say, ‘Hey, we're here. We're doing the work. We support your platform. Heads up, people, it's time to change the conversation.’” 

Matthee is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket and will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot later this year.