POCATELLO — Most Bannock County Republican incumbents survived Tuesday’s primary, but a razor-thin margin ended one statehouse incumbent’s run as voters also weighed in on a school district levy and judicial race.

Total turnout was 26 percent in Bannock County, a figure Elections Director Julie Hancock described “as pretty much on par” for primary elections in a non-presidential year.

Bannock County Commission

Craig Yadon won a three-way Republican primary to claim the District 1 Bannock County Commission seat by a wide margin over his opponents.

Yadon earned 3,391 votes, or 42.87 percent; Samantha Damron secured 2,492 votes, or 31.50 percent; and Joel Jolley received 2,027 votes, or 25.63 percent.

“I am grateful for the confidence voters placed in me at the polls, Yadon said. “I look forward to working with the other commissioners and will strive to earn the trust of Bannock County residents from Tyhee to Swan Lake.”

Yadon said his goals are to “reduce wasteful spending all the while enabling each of our county departments to perform their missions to the highest level.”

He continued, “I want to protect our beautiful environment and allow for responsible growth so our kids will want to stay close to home.”

In the District 2 County Commission race, incumbent Jeff Hough fended off a primary challenge from Chris Schnitzler.

Hough secured 4,523 votes, or 57.31 percent, while Schnitzler earned 3,369 votes, or 42.69 percent, as of press time Tuesday night.

“I am grateful for their trust and belief in the vision that I’ve put forward,” Hough said.

Hough outlined two priorities he plans to pursue in his next term.

“No. 1, I want to look at creating a countywide fire district to better support our rural fire districts,” he said. “The reason for that is it’s easier to get regional grants than small community grants, so I want to be able to provide more training and more resources for rural communities. And No. 2, I want to continue to work on making Bannock County a nuclear ready county for the nuclear industry, whatever that entails, because our survey came back as 90 percent positive that the county was in favor of some sort of nuclear aspect. I want to keep working on that.”

Idaho Legislature

District 28 incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Guthrie turned back a primary challenge from perennial candidate David Worley, earning another term in the Idaho Senate.

Guthrie secured 3,905 votes, or 53.28 percent, to Worley’s 3,424 votes, or 46.72 percent.

“I appreciate the continued support of our local voters,” Guthrie said. “I thought this was a campaign with a lot of aggressive rhetoric and I am just glad to still have their support. The negativity was disappointing to me, but that’s becoming more and more the nature of politics it seems.”

Guthrie said several legislative priorities will drive his next term.

“Water is definitely a priority of mine to keep local farmers in business without curtailing water,” he said. “Education will always be in the forefront, and I continue to support the LAUNCH program. Another focus of mine is agriculture and making sure Idaho stays the agricultural leader that it is. There’s much more for us to worry about than all the social issues that seem to suck the oxygen out of the room and take away from issues that I think are most important to our state.”

In the District 28 House Seat A race, incumbent Republican Rep. Rick Cheatum survived a three-way primary that also included candidates Mike Saville and James Lamborn.

Cheatum earned 3,120 votes, or 43.47 percent; Lamborn earned 2,885 votes, or 40.19 percent; and Saville earned 1,173 votes, or 16.34 percent. Cheatum is set to face Democrat Kim Jackman in the November general election.

District 29 House Seat B incumbent Republican Rep. Tanya Burgoyne could not hold off a primary challenge from Jennifer Miles.

Miles secured 1,814 votes, or 50.56 percent, while Burgoyne secured 1,774 votes, or 49.44 percent — a margin of just 40 votes.

Miles will face Democrat Nate Roberts in November.

Marsh Valley School District levy

Marsh Valley School District voters narrowly rejected a supplemental levy Tuesday, with 875 votes, or 50.32 percent, against the measure compared with 864 votes, or 49.68 percent, in favor — a margin of just 11 votes.

The levy required a simple majority to pass.

Sixth Judicial District

Cody Brower defeated Aaron Thompson in the nonpartisan race for the 6th District Judge Seat Caribou A. Brower secured 5,443 votes, or 51.32 percent, to Thompson’s 5,162 votes, or 48.68 percent.

From a 40-vote statehouse upset to an 11-vote levy defeat, Tuesday’s primary served as a reminder that local elections can turn on the slimmest of margins.

With Tuesday’s primary settled, Bannock County’s attention turns to November, when several of Tuesday’s winners will face Democratic challengers in the general election.