Low turnout for primary election


Pictured from left: John "Mort" Christianson, Steve King and Patty Judge were the unofficial winners in Tuesday's contested races in the Humboldt County Primary. The Humboldt County Board of Supervaiors will canvass the election on Monday.

With only one local contested race, there was a low voter turnout for the June 7 primary election in Humboldt County. According to Humboldt County Commissioner of Elections, Peggy Rice, 516 ballots were cast of the county's 6,617 registered voters, 7.8 percent. The breakdown was 351 Republicans and 165 Democrats.
The lone local race was in the northern and western portions of the county, where Democratic Party primary voters in Suupervisor District 4 chose incumbent John "Mort" Christianson to run again for the seat. Christianson, of Bode, collected 29 votes to 24 for Christine Bothne of Bode, who was challenging him in the primary. The vote totals could change on the recount or with absentee ballots which were postmarked before the election and received after. The votes are unofficial until the official canvass on June 13. Erik Underberg of Livermore was the Supervisor District 4 candidate for the Republicans. He received 70 votes. Humboldt County voters followed statewide trends, electing Patty Judge to represent Democrats as the candidate to challenge Charles Grassley for the U.S. Senate seat. Incumbent Steve King received nearly 74 percent of the Humboldt County Republican's support (254 votes), compared to 25.5 percent or 88 votes for Rick Bertrand of Sioux City for the U.S. House of Representatives District 4 seat. King, of Kiron, will face Kim Weaver of Sheldon in November's general election. For final voting numbers, see the Thursday, June 16 Humboldt Independent. Subscribe today by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

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