CORRECTION: The article "Sunshine report shows varying contributions among District 1 candidates" incorrectly stated that Kathryn Larson had the most contributions in the general election. It should have said she raised the most in her race and that Steve Johnson raised the most of any candidate in the general election. Additionally, independent candidates may raise funds only in the general election, while party-backed candidates may raise funds in both the primary and general election. The Oct. 29 article did not report funds raised during the primary election.

SANDPOINT — North Idaho voters will soon choose their next legislators, with District 1 candidates entering the election with varying levels of campaign fundraising.  

Idaho Sunshine campaign finance reports detail how much candidates for Legislative District 1 have raised and where that money comes from. The reports show differing levels of support from individuals, businesses and political committees in the district's Senate and two House races. 

*Donor information comes directly from Idaho Sunshine. Many contributors tied for a place among the top five. For the full list, visit sunshine.voteidaho.gov. 

State Senator  

Scott Herndon, R 

Herndon received $17,404.77 for the 2026 general election year, most of which was contributed by individuals. $1,000 of contributions were donated by businesses, and $750 came from a political committee called the Rhino Hunters of the Inland Northwest out of Coeur d'Alene.  

In-state donations make up $15,901 of his contributions, with $1,503.77 accounting for non-Idaho donors.  

Herndon's top donors: 

Joe Russell - $1,000 (Boise) 

Janet Russell - $1,000 (Boise) 

Skylar Vallero - $1,000 (Bonners Ferry)  

Mose Dunkel - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Rhino Hunters of the Inland Northwest - $750 (Coeur d'Alene) 

Steve Johnson, independent 

Johnson received almost double the contributions of his opponent in the general election cycle, totaling $37,265, most of which came from individual contributions. He received $675 of his donations from out-of-state donors. Committee donations totaled $4,500. Self-contributions equaled $2,665.  

Johnson's top donors, not including self-contributions:  

Melissa Wintrow - $1,000 (Boise) 

Political Action Committee for Education - $1,000 (Boise) 

Idaho Hospital Association PAC - $1,000 (Boise) 

Cost and Capital Partners, LLC - $1,000 (Sandpoint)  

Jack Ambrosiani - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

District 1 State Representative, seat A 

Jane Sauter, R 

Sauter received a total of $3,649.48 for the general election cycle. Of which, $2,599.48 came from Idahoan donors, and $1,050 came from out-of-state pockets. Most of her donations were from a business or political committee, with only $504.48 coming from individual contributions.  

Sauter's top donors:  

Reynolds American Inc - $1,000 (Winston-Salem, NC) 

Rhino Hunters of the Inland Northwest - $750 (Coeur d'Alene) 

Pend Orielle Shores Resort - $545.00 (Hope) 

Inland Appliance - $500 (Sandpoint) 

Jason Monks - $350 (Nampa) 

Karen Matthee, D 

Matthee raised almost triple that of her opponent for the general election, totaling $10,195.45. A majority of her funds stem from individual contributions, $7,595.45, with $100 donated from a business. Other funds were contributed via political committees. $150 came from out-of-state donors, with the rest from Idahoans.  

Matthee's top donors:  

Bonner County Democratic Central Committee - $2,000 (Sandpoint) 

Linda Larson - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Arleen Lothian - $1,000 (Dover) 

Jacinda Bokowy - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Guy Lothian - $1,000 (Dover) 

District 1 State Representative, seat B 

Incumbent Cornel Rasor, R 

$4,485 was contributed to Rasor's general election campaign, with $3,460 coming from in-state contributors. A little over half of contributions came from individual donors, and $1,750 was donated through a business or political committee.  

Rasor's top donors:  

R.J. Reynolds - $1,000 (Raleigh, NC) 

Ronald Steele - $1,000 (Sagle) 

Rhino Hunters of the Inland Northwest - $750 (Coeur d’Alene) 

Karl Anders - $400 (Naples) 

Ronald Crane - $250 (Nampa) 

Kathryn Larson, independent 

Larson has received the most financial contributions out of all the candidates for the general election, totaling $26,024.70. Most all her donations were contributed from individual donors, with $1,225 coming from a business and $1,000 from a political committee. Idahoan contributions make up $21,994.27 of Larson's total donations.  

Larson's top donors:  

Idaho Hospital Association PAC - $1,000 (Boise) 

Thomas Bokowy - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Jacinda Bokowy - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Cost and Capital Partners LLC - $1,000 (Sandpoint) 

Dana Woudenberg - $1,000 (Scottsdale, AZ) 

A full list of financial contributions for the 2026 primary and general election can be viewed at sunshine.voteidaho.gov.