Extremists Infiltrate Coeur d'Alene GOP, Sparking Backlash

A town hall incident highlights the growing influence of far-right figures in North Idaho politics.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 45-year-old woman named Teresa Borrenpohl was violently dragged out of a Republican town hall meeting in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho by private security officers in February 2025. The incident highlighted the growing influence of far-right extremists who have infiltrated the local GOP power structure in North Idaho, sparking a backlash from more moderate residents concerned about the region's reputation and economic future.

Why it matters

Coeur d'Alene has long struggled with extremism, from the presence of neo-Nazis in the 1970s to the Aryan Nations compound in the 1990s. But in recent years, a new wave of right-wing radicals have made inroads in the local Republican Party, raising alarms about the direction of the community and its political future.

The details

At the town hall, Borrenpohl and others interrupted speakers, leading to a confrontation where she was forcibly removed by private security agents. The incident was seen as an example of how menacing Idaho politics had become, with extremist figures like Dave Reilly gaining influence in the local GOP power structure through groups like the North Idaho Pachyderm Club. Reilly, a self-described Catholic separatist, has ties to white nationalist movements and the far-right website Idaho Tribune.

  • In February 2025, Teresa Borrenpohl was violently removed from a Republican town hall meeting in Coeur d'Alene.
  • In 2019, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) hosted an event featuring a speaker with ties to white nationalism.

The players

Teresa Borrenpohl

A 41-year-old woman who was forcibly removed from a Republican town hall meeting in Coeur d'Alene in February 2025.

Dave Reilly

A self-described Catholic separatist with ties to white nationalist movements who has gained influence in the local GOP power structure through groups like the North Idaho Pachyderm Club.

Brent Regan

The chairman of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC), who has been accused of embracing extremist figures and pushing the local GOP further to the right.

Christa Hazel

A longtime Coeur d'Alene resident who has battled extremism in the local Republican Party, including co-founding the Save NIC campaign.

Dan Gookin

A Republican city council member who ran an upstart campaign for mayor, calling KCRCC chairman Brent Regan a "tyrant" and a "dictator."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When you bring antisemites into the tent, what happens? If you point this out, Regan...will attack the messenger for being woke.”

— Christa Hazel, Longtime Coeur d'Alene resident (Mother Jones)

“You won't find any direct evidence supporting those claims. What you will find is a resolution passed by the full KCRCC committee by unanimous vote rejecting supremacy in all forms.”

— Brent Regan, Chairman, Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (Mother Jones)

“Without addressing the roots of racial hostility and fostering genuine inclusivity, Coeur d'Alene risks further economic decline, continued cultural isolation, and a tarnished reputation that no amount of natural beauty or community pride can easily erase.”

— Blair Williams, Owner, Art Spirit Gallery (Mother Jones)

What’s next

In November 2025, moderate Republican Dan Gookin won the Coeur d'Alene mayoral election, defeating KCRCC-backed candidates. This victory was seen as a potential turning point in the battle against extremist influence in the local GOP.

The takeaway

The growing influence of far-right figures in Coeur d'Alene's Republican Party has sparked a backlash from more moderate residents who are concerned about the region's reputation and economic future. The town hall incident highlighted the divisive politics in the area, raising questions about the future direction of the local GOP and the community as a whole.