WEBER COUNTY — Vote counting continues across Northern Utah following Election Day, with local election workers processing thousands of outstanding ballots in competitive county, school board, and state legislative contests, as the Standard-Examiner reported.
On Tuesday, Weber County officials stated that approximately 17,000 ballots remained to be tabulated. Election workers expected to finish processing about 15,000 of those ballots around 7 p.m. Tuesday. The remaining 2,000 ballots were provisional votes, which officials noted could take up to a full week to complete processing. Counts across competitive local races were updated as of 3:20 p.m. Tuesday and into Wednesday afternoon.
In the race for Weber County Commission Seat A, Republican Duane Kearsley maintained a slight advantage over Democrat Alan Thurgood. As of Wednesday afternoon, Kearsley held 29,923 votes, representing 49.24 percent of the vote, while Thurgood trailed with 27,493 votes, or 45.24 percent. Forward Party candidate Gary C. New stood in third place, garnering 3,352 votes for 5.52 percent.
Local school board races also saw updated totals on Wednesday afternoon. In the Ogden School Board’s only competitive contest, District 6, candidate Zach Thomas built a lead over opponent Jamie Nunley. State election portal data showed Thomas with 657 votes, or 56.35 percent, compared to Nunley’s 509 votes, or 43.65 percent.
Contests for Northern Utah’s Utah Senate seats reflected several clear leads by Wednesday afternoon. In Senate District 5, Democrat Christina Hernandez led Republican Jill Koford, securing 13,719 votes (57.26 percent) to Koford's 10,240 votes (42.74 percent). In Senate District 6, Republican Tami Tran was out in front with 13,594 votes (55.89 percent), leading Democrat Jared Neal, who tallied 9,006 votes (37.03 percent), and Forward Party candidate Josh Smith, who had 1,721 votes (7.08 percent). In Senate District 7, Republican Stephanie Hollist led the field with 16,471 votes (56.05 percent), followed by Democrat Garret Rushforth with 11,493 votes (39.11 percent) and Constitution Party candidate Jerry Ostler with 1,423 votes (4.84 percent).
Election officials also updated results at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday for numerous Utah House of Representatives districts spanning Weber, Davis, and Morgan counties:
In House District 4, Democrat Zane Woolstenhulme held a tight lead over Republican Tiara Auxier, with 4,805 votes (51.62 percent) to 4,503 votes (48.38 percent).
In House District 6, Republican Rob Bishop held a comfortable lead with 7,830 votes (68.42 percent) over Forward Party candidate James Rich, who received 3,614 votes (31.58 percent).
In House District 7, Republican Ryan Wilcox pulled ahead of Democrat Bianca Mittendorf, holding 5,217 votes (52.08 percent) against Mittendorf's 4,801 votes (47.92 percent).
In House District 8, Democrat Kim James maintained a lead with 5,911 votes (50.17 percent). Republican James Kyle held 5,414 votes (45.96 percent), while Forward Party candidate Libby Shelton recorded 456 votes (3.87 percent).
In House District 9, Democrat Angela Choberka recorded 4,669 votes (53.65 percent), leading Republican Jake Sawyer, who held 4,033 votes (46.35 percent).
In House District 10, Democrat Rosemary Lesser led Republican Jim Alvey with 5,661 votes (62.95 percent) compared to Alvey's 3,332 votes (37.05 percent).
In House District 11, Republican Katy Hall held a narrow lead over Democrat Dave Calder, with 4,506 votes (50.54 percent) to Calder's 4,410 votes (49.46 percent).
In House District 12, Republican Mike Schultz led Democrat Anna Graff, bringing in 5,878 votes (56.75 percent) to Graff's 4,480 votes (43.25 percent).
In House District 13, Republican Erik Craythorne captured 4,974 votes (52.71 percent), leading Democrat Jeffrey Anderson, who had 3,841 votes (40.71 percent), and Forward Party candidate Tony de Mille, who had 621 votes (6.58 percent).
In House District 14, Republican John Taylor was ahead of Democrat Brandon Young, garnering 4,733 votes (54.44 percent) to Young's 3,961 votes (45.56 percent).
In House District 15, Republican Ariel Defay led Democrat Anne Berbert with 6,160 votes (59.89 percent) to Berbert's 4,126 votes (40.11 percent).
In House District 16, Republican Bob Stevenson held a close lead over Democrat Abigail Treasure, with 5,128 votes (50.95 percent) against Treasure's 4,936 votes (49.05 percent).
In House District 17, Republican Lili Bitner recorded 6,272 votes (58.07 percent) to lead Democrat Eric Last, who received 4,528 votes (41.93 percent).
In House District 18, Republican Paul Cutler led Democrat Scott Troxel with 6,536 votes (58.52 percent) to Troxel's 4,633 votes (41.48 percent).
In House District 20, Democrat Phil Graves led Republican Melissa Ballard, posting 4,691 votes (51.98 percent) to Ballard's 4,333 votes (48.02 percent).
