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In his letter, Mr. Cramer seems to be misinformed. While claiming that liberals from California are moving to the area in record numbers, just the opposite is true.

Back when lumber and mining were active in North Idaho, labor union members voted Democratic. Democrat Cecil Andrus served four terms as governor and Sen. Frank Church was reported as making a speech in “liberal North Idaho.”

But in the 1990s, people started moving to Idaho, mostly from California. And while some were seeking its unspoiled beauty, “many were conservatives, and they were moving to Idaho where they would feel more comfortable,” says Boise State University political science professor Jim Weatherby. (Some were attracted by real estate advertising.)

In the1990s, Democrats Jim Stoicheff and Tim Tucker represented our district in the Idaho Legislature. Stoicheff was so popular that no one opposed him for re-election. Walt Minnick was elected to our Congressional seat in 2008.

But by then the tea party group had taken over control of the state GOP. This conservative dominance continued as more people from the redoubt or alt right movements emigrated to our area. Today, one of our district’s state representatives, a Republican, is from California.

If the GOP moves away from right-wing extremism and becomes more pragmatic, Weatherby feels,“ opportunities could be provided for Democrats to enter in coalitions as they once did with a significant center in the GOP.” With our current president having a low approval rating, of about 37%, perhaps moderate Republicans and Democrats could join in shared policies which could unite our region and state.

JAMES W. RAMSEY

Kootenai