SANDPOINT — Republican voters opted on Tuesday to stay the course for the District 3 county commission seat, but opted for a change of course for the District 1 post.

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Dan McDonald fended off a challenge for the GOP nod by former Ponderay Mayor Carol Kunzeman. McDonald collected 4,156 votes against Kunzeman’s 3,264, a difference of 841 votes.

Incumbent District 1 Commissioner Glen Bailey, meanwhile, lost his party’s nomination to Cocolalla pastor Steven Bradshaw. Bradshaw amassed 3,607 votes to 2,946, a difference of 661 votes. A third contender for the GOP nod, Bruce Hollett, finished the primary with 764 votes.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all those who supported me with their votes and contributions,” Bailey said on Wednesday.

Bailey added that he’s congratulated Bradshaw on his win and said he will support him during the general election.

McDonald will go up against former Sandpoint Councilman Steve Lockwood in the November general election. Lockwood was unchallenged in the Democratic primary for the District 3 seat.

Bradshaw will face retired businesswoman Patricia Wentworth, who also had no challenger for the Democratic party nomination, in November.

Bonner County’s GOP voters also tapped Donna Gow to be its pick for assessor in a closely-contested race. Gow slipped past Dennis Engelhardt and Richard Miller to win the party’s nomination. Gow gathered 3,249 votes, while Engelhardt and Miller finished the contest with 2,050 and 1,988 votes, respectively. Gow advances to the primary, where she will meet Shirley Kolm, a Democrat who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.