By Mike Perkins
Special to The Tab
Republican candidates prevailed in all contested races at every level of the 2022 Huntington County general election Nov. 8.
A total of 11,488 voters – 47.25 percent of those registered in Huntington County -- cast ballots in the midterm election for contested spots at the federal, state, and township level, as well as for independent candidates running for town councils in Roanoke and Warren and three nonpartisan positions on the Huntington County Community School Corporation’s Board of Trustees.
At the top of the local ticket, Andy Zay, of Huntington, was reelected to represent Huntington County the Indiana State Senate, representing District 17.
He defeated Democrat challenger Joe Swisher by a 75-25 percent percent margin in a district that also includes portions of Wabash and Grant counties.
Zay received 75.66 percent of the Huntington County vote.
With the win, Zay begins his second full four-year term.
Wabash County newcomer Lorissa Sweet, also a Republican, defeated Democrat Tammy Ingalls in the contest for 50th District State Representative. Sweet, who unseated long-time 50th District Rep. Dan Leonard for the Republican nomination in May, picked up 76.75 of the Huntington County vote on her way to a 78-22 percent victory in the district that also takes in portions of Wabash, Whitley, and Miami counties.
This year there were a total of 24 contested races on federal, state, county, and township ballots. In addition, there were two contested races for town council and one contested school board race. There were seven uncontested offices on the county ballot and 10 uncontested positions on the township ballot.
In addition, there was one uncontested town council position in Markle, and two uncontested positions on the school board ballot.
Among the evenings closest races was the contest for School Board District #3, where Kari Heim defeated Lee Smith, 54-46 percent.
