SANDPOINT — Bonner County voters turned out Tuesday for the May 19 primary election, deciding several contested Republican legislative races and a handful of local ballot measures. With 99% of ballots tallied shortly after 11 p.m., former State Senator Scott Herndon, incumbent Cornel Rasor, and challenger Jane Sauter each secured GOP nominations for Legislative District 1 seats at the Idaho Statehouse.
Legislative District 1 Results
The most closely watched race of the evening was the District 1 state Senate contest, where Herndon ousted Republican incumbent Jim Woodward. Herndon captured 6,191 votes, representing 53.71% of the total, to Woodward’s 5,336 votes, or 46.29%. Herndon will now advance to the November general election, where he will face independent candidate Steve Johnson.
In the District 1A House race, Jane Sauter defeated incumbent Mark Sauter — no relation — by a similar margin. Jane Sauter received 6,151 votes, or 54.02%, compared to 5,236 votes, or 45.98%, for the incumbent. She will face Democratic candidate Karen Matthee in November. Matthee collected 791 votes in the primary with 99% of ballots counted.
District 1B incumbent Cornel Rasor turned in the strongest performance among the three legislative winners, dispatching challenger Chuck Lowman with 7,123 votes, or 63.57%, to Lowman’s 4,082 votes, or 36.43%. Rasor will face independent candidate Kathryn Larson in the general election.
County Races and Clerk Contest
At the county level, Republican incumbent Asia Williams lost her District 2 commissioner seat to challenger Jeff Roberts. Roberts carried 7,924 votes, or 63.8%, while Williams received 4,496 votes, or 36.2%.
The open county clerk race produced a decisive outcome as well. Roger Rudd defeated Spencer Hutchings, collecting 7,673 votes, or 68.53%. Hutchings finished with 2,333 votes, or 20.84%. A third candidate, JoAnne Guzzi, remained on the ballot despite having dropped out of the race in April and still drew 1,190 votes, or 10.63% of the total.
Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale noted before Tuesday’s results that early and absentee voting participation was noticeably lower than during the 2024 primary cycle. As of Tuesday morning, 1,381 early votes had been counted, with absentee totals expected to reach approximately 1,600. Rosedale also described this cycle as administratively complex, noting that one precinct alone required 16 different ballot faces for staff to assemble.
Ballot Measures Produce Mixed Results
Several local taxing districts placed levy requests before voters, with results varying by measure and location.
The Selkirk Recreation District sought a $700,000 levy to cover snow plowing, road and trail maintenance, shuttle services, and general operations for residents on Schweitzer Mountain. The measure required a two-thirds majority to pass. With early and absentee ballots counted, it stood at 25 yes votes to 24 no votes — 51.02% in favor — well short of the 66.67% threshold needed for approval.
The Northside Fire District fared better with its request for a two-year temporary levy of $689,112 to fund staffing, recruitment, equipment, and emergency medical services. Needing only a simple majority, the measure passed with 1,553 yes votes, or 54.9%, against 1,276 no votes.
The Westside Fire Protection District sought a permanent levy of $675,221 to increase personnel and sustain district operations. Though the measure received 622 yes votes — 60.10% — it fell short of the 66.67% supermajority required, and the levy failed.
The Lakeland School District’s plant levy request, asking for $3 million annually over five years for facility and safety improvements across its 11 schools, also faced headwinds. In Bonner County, early returns showed 37 no votes to 11 yes. In the larger Kootenai County portion of the district, the measure trailed with 57.14% of voters opposed. The levy required 55% approval to pass.
What Comes Next
The primary results set the stage for competitive November general election contests across multiple Legislative District 1 seats and the Bonner County Commission. Herndon, Rasor, and Jane Sauter will carry the Republican banner into the fall, while Roberts will represent the GOP in the county commissioner race. Remaining ballot measures and any uncounted absentee votes will be certified by county officials in the coming days. For broader context on Idaho legislative races and statewide political developments, visit Idaho News. Local government watchers can also follow recent Bonner County coverage, including the Ponderay City Council’s review of an Avista public utility complex application, as North Idaho communities continue to address growth and infrastructure needs heading into the summer.