By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff
The Bonner County Democrats will have a new leader headed into the new year, with the election of Karen Matthee to the position following the departure of Linda Larson from the role following the 2024 election season.
Karen Matthee. File photo.
Larson had served four years as chair of the local Democrats, and plans to remain active in the party while expressing appreciation for the organization and optimism about its future.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful group of talented and dedicated Democrats here in Bonner County,” Larson stated in an announcement of the transition in leadership. “I’m excited to take on a new role within the organization, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish moving forward.”
Matthee takes the helm after a run for the District 1A seat in the Idaho House of Representatives in the November 2024 election, which incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Sauter won with 24,189 votes to Matthee’s 6,923 (77.7% to 22.3%).
Despite that loss — and the victory of Republican Cornel Rasor over Democrat Kathryn Larson in the race for the Dist. 1B House seat with 22,565 votes to 9,067 (71.3% to 28.7%) — both campaigns were considered by observers to be more vigorous than past Democratic challenges for local legislative offices, and indicated a renewed vigor in the local party.
Matthee thanked Linda Larson for her service as she accepted the new role at the Bonner County Democrats’ most recent leadership meeting. She will serve the remainder of a two-year term, which ends in May 2026.
“Linda Larson will be a tough act to follow. She has done so much to raise the profile of Democrats here in Bonner County, and to back several excellent candidates for a variety of offices — often without the recognition that was due her and BCDCC volunteers,” Matthee stated in an announcement.
Matthee’s agenda for the Bonner County Democrats includes focusing on strengthening the party’s structure, “providing service to our community and promoting voter education on key local and state issues that impact all of us,” she stated.
For more information on the Bonner County Democrats and their work, contact [email protected].
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