Two political newcomers and one incumbent, all Republicans, had leads in their respective Bannock County races in Tuesday's election.

As of press time late Tuesday night, Republican Anita Hymas was ahead of Democrat Tamara Code in the county assessor's race while Republican incumbent Jeff Hough and GOP political newcomer John Crowder were winning their respective county commission contests with vote totals counted for 51 of the county's 57 precincts.

Those numbers do not include early voting totals, which local election officials said might not be available until early Wednesday morning.

Hymas received 10,252 votes to Code's 4,627 in the assessor's race with 51 of the 57 precincts counted.

If her lead holds, Hymas, currently the county's chief deputy assessor, would take over for Republican Assessor Sheri Davies, who decided not to run for reelection.

Hymas, who will be the sixth Bannock County assessor since 2006, said she's looking forward to implementing her many plans for the office that has often found itself at the center of controversy.

"I've worked for a long time in that office and I'm excited to be in charge and to be able to do the things that need to be done," said Hymas, who's worked in the Bannock County Assessor's Office for the past 40 years. "I appreciate all the support I've received. I had a great team helping me. They helped me with the parades, with getting signs up. The support from my family, friends and coworkers has been amazing."

With 51 of the county's precincts counted, Hough had received 10,107 votes to Democratic challenger Lisa Alexander's 4,938.

Hough said he feels his constituents support the county's direction.

"Our big plan for the upcoming year is working on emergency services throughout the county and working to improve that," Hough said. "Right now ambulance response time in south county is plus or minus 20 to 25 minutes. So we're looking to invest in the fire station in McCammon to have an ambulance bay down there and to staff it. Our intent is to have it staffed full time but we're still working out the details on that."

With 51 precincts counted Crowder had 9,917 votes to Democrat Kathleen Lewis' 5,105 in Tuesday's other Bannock County Commission race.

In adjacent Power County, the only contested local race on Tuesday was for county clerk. Incumbent Republican Clerk Sharee Sprague received 1,359 votes to defeat Democrat Leona Jackson, who received 582 votes.