Last Straw:Their "vetting" shut out challengers and picked a flat-earther over the governor

The record

• Allie Anderton was a sitting Coeur d'Alene school trustee when she was arrested for DUI and drug paraphernalia.¹
• She resigned, then pleaded guilty to a second DUI.²
• Regan cited her case when defending the vetting process: "Humans sometimes fail."³
• Rathdrum Mayor Mike Hill resigned on May 3, 2026, as the sheriff's office investigated a domestic battery incident.⁴
• Sheriff's reports describe a struggle over a firearm and his wife being punched in the face.⁵
• The prosecutor declined domestic battery charges on Aug. 12.⁵
• KCRCC precinct committeeman Nina Beesley said the Recruitment Committee invited only incumbents to the 2026 vetting.⁶
• Beesley said it was the first time in five years she knew of that not all candidates were invited.⁶
• The Campaign Committee also did not invite all Republican candidates into the 2026 voter guide, a change from the past two years.⁶
• Former KCRCC member Whitehead said vetting turned into endorsing some Republicans against others in primaries.³
• In April 2026 Regan wrote: "The party has a responsibility to ensure that a candidate who claims to be a Republican is actually a Republican as measured by our party's Platform."⁷
• A Coeur d'Alene Press opinion piece said the process is "controlled by a small group that decides which candidates voters are allowed to see, and which are left off the page entirely."⁸
• The KCRCC's vote tally for governor: Fitzpatrick 29, Brad Little 8, Ron James 3.⁹
• The KCRCC's May 2026 Rated and Vetted card lists Fitzpatrick for governor.¹⁰
• Fitzpatrick says the earth is flat, in his own words on video.¹¹
• Six North Idaho Republicans wrote that he called the Challenger disaster a NASA conspiracy.¹²
• His bar has hosted talks calling NASA a Satanic lie.¹³

Who

• Allie AndertonResigned after her arrest.
• Mike HillResigned as mayor.
• Brent ReganChaired the committee that vetted both.
• Mark FitzpatrickThe full record, 10 sources.

Sources

1. Coeur d'Alene school trustee resigns following DUI citationCoeur d'Alene Press · April 2025 (archive)
2. Former Cd'A School District trustee pleads guilty to second DUICoeur d'Alene Press · October 2025 (archive)
3. Precinct committee races could reshape Kootenai County politicsCoeur d'Alene Press · May 2026 (archive)
4. Rathdrum mayor resigns amid investigation of domestic battery incidentCoeur d'Alene Press · May 2026 (archive)
5. Rathdrum's former mayor, who resigned amid a police investigation into domestic violence, may have been ineligible for role anywaySpokesman-Review · October 2026 (archive)
6. KCRCC: Vetting, guide excluded candidatesCoeur d'Alene Press · May 2026 (archive)
7. OPINION: Little Big TentCoeur d'Alene Press, by Brent Regan · April 2026 (archive)
8. Republican voters deserve all the facts - not a biased listCoeur d'Alene Press, March 2026 (archive)
9. KCRCC May 2026 rating and vetting vote tally (image)KCRCC · April 2026
10. KCRCC May 2026 Rated and Vetted card (image)KCRCC · 2026
11. Mark Fitzpatrick defends flat earth beliefs on videoOld State Saloon / X · December 2024 (archive)
12. Why does KCRCC oppose Republican Gov. Brad Little?Coeur d'Alene Press · April 2026 (archive)
13. A Deeper Dive into the Old State Saloon's Impact on Idaho PoliticsDon't Mash On Me · June 2025 (archive)