SANDPOINT — Showing support for a non-Republican nominee may be grounds for removal from the Republican Central Committee if a newly proposed bylaw passes. 

In the months leading up to Idaho’s general election, GOP District 1 Senate nominee Scott Herndon has proposed a “Duty of Loyalty” bylaw to Idaho’s GOP Central Committee to ensure that committee members support Republican nominees during the general election. 

The proposed bylaw would require central committee members and officers to refrain from publicly supporting a non-Republican candidate in a general election when a Republican nominee is on the ballot. Supporters say the rule is intended to keep party representatives aligned behind Republican nominees, while critics say it could punish elected precinct committee members for exercising independent political judgment. 

If the bylaw passes, elected precinct committeemen or officers could be removed from the committees if they show support of an opposing candidate.  

“The people who are actually elected to be party representatives, who are on a central committee, should remain quiet if they don’t like the Republican nominee; the whole idea and purpose of the party is to form policy and then advance people into elected positions that represent the principles of the party,” Herndon said. “But if they were publicly opposing the Republican candidate, or publicly supporting opposition to the Republican candidate, then that’s not really in line with what the whole party is about going into a general election.”  

Herndon likened political parties to teams, where all committee members should support their respective team; otherwise, they could be seen as a “traitor” within the party.  

The bylaw was brought forth to both the Idaho GOP Central Committee and the Bonner County Republican Central Committee and was first introduced to the county during a July committee meeting. The bylaw was expected to be voted on during an Aug. 18 meeting, but due to the proposal seeing more advancement at Idaho’s GOP Central Committee, Herndon removed the proposal from county vote. 

If the bylaw was approved by the Idaho GOP Central Committee, it would apply to BCRCC.  

Washington precinct committeeman Tom Bokowy, who Herndon said was the inspiration for the proposed bylaw due to prior financial contributions to Democratic candidates, said there were mixed feelings about the proposal during its reading, and that he wasn’t in support of it.  

“It says as Republicans that we should be supporting the Republican nominees. My issue with that is very similar to the ‘why’ reason for it. I think most people should be able to think for themselves,” Bokowy said. “We’re elected by the people, and forcing loyalty is not loyalty at all.” 

He further noted an inconsistency with the proposal, where Herndon vocalized support for independent candidate Dan Rose after losing the Republican primary race to Jim Woodward in 2024.  

In an Oct. 11, 2024, Facebook post, Herndon shared a Bonner and Boundary counties voter guide that said, “I am NOT voting for Jim Woodward” and “the only way Woodward will not win the race is if you vote for Dan Rose instead.” 

Statements like the ones above have made Herndon’s proposed bylaw controversial, according to Bokowy, who said the proposed rule could subject committee members to discipline or removal for doing “essentially the same thing” as Herndon.  

"I certainly understand that a political party has an interest in supporting its nominees. But I think there is an important distinction between the party advocating its candidates and requiring elected representatives to pledge loyalty under threat of removal,” Bokowy said. “Who should an elected precinct committeeman answer to, the Republican voters who elected them or party leadership that can remove them for political disloyalty?”  

Herndon noted the bylaw, if approved, would address Democrats running for Republican positions, an issue that he said stems from a motive to change the Republican Party.  

The proposed bylaw will be considered at the next Idaho GOP Central Committee meeting.