COEUR d’ALENE — Brent Regan, the longtime chair of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, lost his GOP precinct committee race Tuesday night. 

That might not stop him from leading the KCRCC.

“He could stay on as chair if he has the votes,” said Jack Riggs, a former Idaho lieutenant governor and a founding member of North Idaho Republicans, a political action committee that aims to “restore honor and credibility to the KCRCC” by electing new committeemen. 

Regan declined to comment on the election results Wednesday. 

Under the central committee’s bylaws, the KCRCC consists of the precinct committeemen elected during the primary election and the officers whom those committeemen vote into power. Those officers, including the chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and others, need not be committeemen and they get to vote on KCRCC matters. 

It’s not unprecedented for an ousted committeeman to retain a leadership position on the central committee. When Bev Guenette lost her seat in 2024, she became secretary of the KCRCC.

“I think it goes against the will of the people,” said Marc Stewart, who represents precinct 405 and lost his bid for reelection by five votes Tuesday night. “Voter nullification is what it is.” 

During his tenure, Stewart said he pushed to change the central committee’s bylaws and disallow unelected officers from voting on KCRCC matters. 

“At that time, Chairman Regan tried to dissuade me from doing that,” he said, adding that his proposal was postponed indefinitely and went nowhere. 

The KCRCC’s organizing meeting is 6 p.m. May 28 at the Kootenai County Administration Meeting. During this meeting, committeemen will elect officers and delegates to the state GOP convention.  

The current crop of central committeemen will meet sooner, however.  

According to an email obtained by The Press, Regan informed the central committee Wednesday afternoon that a special meeting will occur at 3 p.m. Saturday at The Altar Church “for the purpose of facilitating the transition from the 2024-2026 KCRCC to the 2026-2028 KCRCC.”  

The meeting will also involve “the business of instructing the chairman, or other members of the executive committee, to complete transition tasks as determined by the central committee.”  

The KCRCC sometimes allows the public to observe portions of meetings. Saturday’s meeting will occur behind closed doors “so that sensitive or proprietary information may be discussed,” according to the email. 

In Tuesday’s election, North Idaho Republicans backed a slate of candidates who said they would tip the scales on the central committee toward “integrity, transparency and honesty.” 

“This election was really about leadership,” said Sandy Patano, a former vice chair for the Idaho State Republican Party and a founding member of NIR. “That’s what was really on the ballot for us. We don’t have to change the entire body. We need to change the leadership.” 

Meanwhile, another PAC emerged: Kootenai Freedom Caucus. 

The Idaho GOP’s rules prohibit central committees from endorsing any candidates for the office of precinct committeeman. The KCRCC poured more than $17,000 into the Kootenai Freedom Caucus and directed voters to the PAC’s website, which promoted a slate of candidates that included Regan and opposed NIR’s slate. 

A 38-seat coalition is needed to take majority control of the central committee. Kootenai Freedom Caucus candidates secured 37 seats Tuesday night, while NIR candidates picked up 33. 

But there’s another factor. Several races included candidates who didn’t receive the endorsement of either faction. 

Some of those candidates won, including Rick Montandon, who beat Brent Regan by 14 votes in precinct 205. Montandon did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday. He previously told the Spokesman-Review that his approach to the race was “independent and neighbor-focused.” 

Riggs said it’s unclear how some of the newly elected precinct committeemen might vote. 

“We feel they’re independent and they’ll make their own decisions,” he said.

Two years ago, when NIR had fewer seats on the central committee, Regan retained his position as chair by four votes. This time, the margins could be thinner. 

“It’s going to be close no matter what,” Riggs said.