POST FALLS - Don Cheatham believes his lack of political experience and being relatively new here actually helped him earn the Republican nomination for Frank Henderson's seat at the Legislature.

"I think door-knocking was the biggest factor, and being a newcomer appealed to residents," said Cheatham, who defeated Jeff Ward and Greg Gfeller in the run for 3rd Legislative District House Seat B during Tuesday's primary.

"I believe being a first-time candidate helped me. I never got questioned about being new here."

Cheatham, a former Los Angeles police officer and recently retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, moved to Post Falls two years ago.

Cheatham said he doesn't believe campaign finances were much of a factor in his victory because most of the money - about $6,000 - came from himself. He said only $625 came from private individuals, and he didn't want to accept funds from political action committees and other interest groups.

"I felt confident after door-knocking that this election went beyond the groups," he said. "It was about talking to people and feeling people's pain. A lot of people believe there's reasons to shrink government."

Cheatham had 1,450 votes compared to Ward's 1,037 and Gfeller's 1,000.

Gfeller, director of operations for Avista Utilities' North Idaho operation, was endorsed by the retiring Henderson.

Ward, president and founding member of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, is president of the Titan Group publishing company.

While Cheatham apparently didn't need name recognition to earn him the Republican nomination, Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d'Alene, said their legislative experience came in handy en route to their wins in the other District 3 races.

Nonini defeated Post Falls' Pat Whalen 2,461 to 1,345, while Mendive topped Post Falls' Terry Werner 2,408 to 1,260.

"I believe that I ran a clean campaign and was supportive of the Republican Party," said Nonini, referring to what he thought were the biggest factors in his win. "I responded to all of the party platform surveys. Voters want to see where you stand with the issues."

Nonini said he didn't align himself with any particular group within the party.

"I represent my constituents, not any one or two groups," he said.

He said the outcome of the race shows who voted.

"I'm a conservative person, District 3 is a conservative district and those conservatives got out and voted," he said. "Our country is not in a good position."

Nonini, who owns Nonini Financial Services, said he believes his involvement in the party for the past 25 years also helped. He has served in the Senate for two years and was on the House side eight years before that.

Whalen is president of the Resource Computing computer software firm in Coeur d'Alene.

Mendive and Werner both said their race was mostly cordial, but it was obvious that they were at opposite ends on multiple issues.

Mendive opposes the Common Core education standards and the state health insurance exchange and believes the state should attempt to take control of federal lands.

"We both stuck to our positions and let the voters decide," said Mendive, a principal in a firm that developed a self-igniting pellet stove. "That's the way it should be. I tried to keep my word and, to me, that was the most important thing that helped."

Werner, who will retire this fall as the city of Post Falls' public services director, said he was aware that the far-right side of the party is close-knit and could turn out in force at the polls.

Democrat write-in candidates haven't stepped forward to face Cheatham and Nonini in the November general election. Post Falls Democrat Michelle Lippert will take on Mendive at that time.