Republican candidates swept races across Kootenai County and the broader North Idaho region in the November 2022 general election, reinforcing the area’s status as one of the most conservative regions in the country.

In Kootenai County, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by roughly four to one, the May Republican primary had effectively decided most races. General election results confirmed the primary outcomes.

The NIC board of trustees races drew particular attention given the ongoing accreditation concerns at the college. Board chair Greg McKenzie circulated a letter before the election claiming accreditation concerns were ‘Fake News’ and had ‘never been at risk,’ a claim that would be directly contradicted by the accreditor’s subsequent actions.

Legislative races across North Idaho’s districts saw Republican incumbents returned to office with comfortable margins. The results reflected the continued rightward shift of the region’s political identity.