Republican incumbents enjoy big day in Mat-Su state legislative races

Republican incumbents across the Valley hold strong leads in the Mat-Su state legislative races.

Incumbents DeLena Johnson and Cathy Tilton hold big leads over challengers in House Districts 25 and 26 and are expected to prevail. Johnson received 78 percent of the vote in District 25. Challenger Lawrence Wood garnered 20 percent. Titlon earned 81 percent of the vote, well ahead of Libertarian challenger Daniel Stokes’ 18 percent.

Another Republican incumbent, David Eastman, received 51 percent of the vote, in a race that also featured Republicans Stu Graham (27 percent) and Brendan Carpenter (19 percent) in District 28.

Incumbent Rep. George Rauscher holds a strong lead in District 29 over his challenger, Elijah Haase. Rauscher, with his 75 percent of the vote, is expected to prevail in the final count.

Incumbent Rep, Kevin McCabe held a lead over challengers Doyle Holmes and Joy Mindiola in House District 30. McCabe has 45 percent of the vote. Holmes is sitting at 35 percent.

District 28 features four Republicans battling for the seat. Mat-Su assembly member Jesse Sumner (36 percent) led challengers Steve Menard (26 percent), Rachel Allen (26 percent), and Jessica Wright (14 percent).

In the Mat-Su Senate races, incumbent Sen. Mike Shower appears to have overcome a poor showing in the August primary election, and is now leading challenger Doug Massie in Senate District O. Shower has 52 percent of the vote, about 600 votes ahead of Massie.

Incumbent Sen. Shelley Hughes held a strong lead over challenger Jim Cooper, 76 percent to 23 percent, in Senate District M. In Senate District N, incumbent Sen. David Wilson is leading in a three-way race with 44 percent of votes against challengers Scott Clayton, with 25 percent, and Stephen Wright, with 29 percent.

In the race for two Mat-Su Borough Assembly seats, incumbents Tim Hale and Stephanie Nowers hold significant leads. In District 1, Hale received 3,124 votes. Challenger Brian Endle received 2,345 votes. Nowers scored 2,043 votes in District 2, ahead of challengers Meghan Trupp (1,329) and Dana Raffaniello (961).

Newcomers Kendal Kruse, Jacob Butcher and Ted Swanson lead races in the Mat-Su School Board election. Current member Ole Larson (District 6) and newcomer Kathy McCollum (District 3) ran unopposed for their seats.

Kruse received 2,267 votes in District 2, ahead of former board member Ray Michaelson (1,942).

Butcher, part of a three-way race for District 5 received 2,018 votes, ahead of Shirley Akelkok (765) and Kimmie Elrod (603).

Swanson received 2,314 votes in District 7, ahead of Christiana Sitbon (1,608).