Kootenai County Republican Central Committee recommends Mark Fitzpatrick over Brad Little, 29-8

“The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee voted 29-8 to recommend gubernatorial candidate Mark Fitzpatrick over incumbent Brad Little after vetting,” the committee said, framing the decision as one that “highlights grassroots support and calls for change in state leadership,” and noting the announcement “garnered significant engagement.” The 29-8 tally marks a clear local rebuke of the incumbent in Kootenai County’s official central committee deliberations.

The county committee’s recommendation comes into view against a separate, public slate issued by the region’s North Idaho Republicans PAC. “The North Idaho Republicans PAC announced its endorsement of candidates seeking election Nov. 8,” the PAC said in a release published in the Coeur d’Alene Press, and listed incumbent Gov. Brad Little as its gubernatorial choice. North Idaho Republicans PAC’s statewide endorsements include Scott Bedke for lieutenant governor, Phil McGrane for secretary of state, Brandon Woolf for state controller, Julie Ellsworth for state treasurer, Raúl Labrador for attorney general, and Debbie Critchfield for superintendent of public instruction.

The PAC’s release explicitly positioned its slate against the county committee’s recommendation: the statement said it was “proud to support and endorse a number of qualified conservative candidates … And, unlike the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, North Idaho Republicans has chosen to publicly support the seven Republicans running for the seven statewide offices.” That contrast highlights a divided local Republican ecosystem in Kootenai County between the county committee’s grassroots-driven recommendation and a newly organized regional PAC backing incumbents and a full statewide ticket.

North Idaho Republicans PAC also issued local endorsements and ballot guidance. The release lists Kootenai County Assessor — Republican - Write-in Bob Scott, North Idaho College trustees Tarie Zimmerman (Zone 1), Brad Corkill (Zone 2), and Pete Broschet (Zone 5), and Soil & Water Conservation District candidates Robert Flagor, Walter Jon Groth, and Calvin Roberts, with the instruction “Vote for three.” On ballot measures the PAC took positions, stating Idaho Constitutional Amendment — SJR 102, NO, and Idaho Advisory Question [Tax Refund, Tax Reduction & Public Education Funding], APPROVE.

The PAC’s materials also described the organization’s origins and membership: “North Idaho Republicans PAC was formed earlier this year to actively support Republican candidates who best exemplify conservative Republican principles,” and it said it has “over 80 longtime local Republican founding members, 28 are also former area Republican elected officials.” The release was printed in the Coeur d’Alene Press, whose webpage footer shows copyright © 2026.

The split leaves Kootenai County Republicans with two competing signals as campaigns move forward: a 29-8 county committee recommendation for Mark Fitzpatrick framed as grassroots change, and a North Idaho Republicans PAC public endorsement of Gov. Brad Little alongside a broad slate of statewide and local Republican candidates and explicit ballot positions. The committee used the word “recommend” in announcing its vote, while the PAC has circulated a public endorsement list ahead of the Nov. 8 ballot.