SANDPOINT — With 99% of the ballots counted shortly after 11 p.m., Scott Herndon, Jane Sauter and Cornel Rasor appear to have claimed the GOP nomination for Legislative District 1 seats.

 The races were just a few of the ones decided by voters who took to the polls to decide on political party primaries and ballot measures on Tuesday.

Bonner County has seen significantly lower early and absentee voting turnout compared to the 2024 primary election, according to Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale. As of Tuesday morning, Rosedale said 1,381 early votes have been counted, and he expects the absentee voting to reach around 1,600 ballots. 

Rosedale said that this primary election is by far the most complicated of all the cycles. This year, Rosedale said that one precinct has 16 different ballot faces for the staff to assemble. 

District 1 legislative races 

Republican incumbent Jim Woodward was defeated by former State Senator Scott Herndon for the District 1 state Senate seat. With 99% of the ballots counted, Herndon defeated incumbent Jim Woodward to claim the GOP nomination for the seat. Herndon garnered 6,191 votes, or 53.71%, to 5,336 votes, or 46.29%.

Herndon will now face independent candidate Steve Johnson in the general election in November. 

Both District 1 seats in the state House of Representatives were on the ballot. In the race for the District 1A seat, Jane Sauter defeated incumbent Mark Sauter (no relation). Jane Sauter received 6,151 votes, or 54.02%, to 5,236 votes, or 45.98%.

The Republican nominee will face Democratic candidate Karen Matthee in the November general election for the District 1A seat.  Matthee had 791 votes with 99% of the ballots counted.

In the District 1B seat race, incumbent Cornel Rasor defeated Chuck Lowman. With 99% of the ballots counted, Rasor had 7,123 votes, or 63.57%, while Chuck Lowman had 4,082 votes, or 36.43%.

The winner of this race will face independent candidate Kathryn Larson in the general election for the seat. 

Bonner County races 

Republican incumbent Asia Williams was defeated by challenger Jeff Roberts for the District 2 county commissioner seat. With 99% of the ballots counted, Roberts had 7,924 votes, or 63.8%, to 4,496 votes, or 36.2%.

In the open county clerk race, candidates Roger Rudd defeated Spencer Hutchings, with prior candidate JoAnne Guzzi still on the ballot, despite dropping out of the race in April. Rudd had 7,673 votes, or 68.53%, while Hutchings received 2,333 votes, or 20.84%. Guzzi received 1,190 votes, or 10.63. 

Ballot measures 

For Bonner County voters residing on Schweitzer Mountain, the Selkirk Recreation District is seeking a levy request of $700,000 to fund snow plowing, road and trail maintenance, shuttle services and generalized maintenance and operations.

The levy requires a 2/3 majority approval for it to pass. With absentee and early voting ballots counted, there were 25 yes votes, off 51.02% in favor, with 24 votes against, or 48.98%. The measure failed to receive the necessary majority.

For residents at the very south end of Bonner County, the Lakeland School District’s school plant levy request will be on the ballot. The school district is making a request for $3 million per year for five years to support facility and safety improvements and maintenance at the district’s 11 schools. 

At least 55% of voters must vote in favor of the levy for it to pass. In early voting, in Bonner County there were 37 no votes to 11 yes votes. In Kootenai County, there were 4,557 no votes, or 57.14%, to 3,643 yes votes, or 42.86%

Northside Fire District will request a temporary levy for $689,112 for two years to help with costs of staffing, hiring and equipping additional firefighters and EMTs, maintaining the district’s operations and providing life preservation services.  The measure needs 50% plus one vote to pass.

The measure received 1,553 yes votes, or 54.9%, to 1,276 no votes, or 45.10%. The measure needed a 50% plus one vote to pass.

The Westside Fire Protection District is seeking a permanent levy of $675,221 to increase personnel and maintain district operations.  

While the measure received 622 yes votes, or 60.10%, to 413 no votes, or 39.9%, it failed to receive the needed majority of 66.67% needed to pass.