HOUGHTON — Houghton County voters supported President Donald Trump, giving him 10,380 votes (56.8%) to 7,755 (41.9%) for Joe Biden. The gap was only slightly narrower than Trump’s 15.6-point edge over Hillary Clinton in Houghton County four years ago. Also receiving voters were Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen (285), Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins (49), U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Don Blankenship (28) and Natural Law Party candidate Rocky De La Fuente (11).

Republican challenger John James (10,152) outpaced incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters (7,947). Also receiving votes were Green Party candidate Marcia Squier (142), U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Valerie Willis (89) and Natural Law Party candidate Doug Dern (27).

U.S. House

Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (10,964) received more votes in Houghton County than Democratic opponent Dana Ferguson (7,002) and Libertarian candidate Ben Boren (323).

For the 110th District in the State House, Republican incumbent Rep. Greg Markkanen (10,290) received more votes than Democratic opponent Janet Metsa (7,699) and Libertarian candidate Rick Sauermilch (238).

County-wide races

In the sheriff race, incumbent Republican Sheriff Brian McLean (12,261) defeated independent candidates Roger Sullivan (1,165) and Josh Saaranen (1,813), the latter of whom had endorsed McLean, and write-in challenger Steve Laux (there were 840 total write-in votes)

In the clerk race, incumbent Democratic Clerk Jennifer Kelly (9,957) defeated Republican challenger Justin Kasieta (7,670).

Incumbent Democratic Mine Inspector Murray Gillis (8,985) defeated U.S. Taxpayers Party challenger Brian Mason (3,870).

Prosecutor Brittany Bulleit (D, 10,922), Treasurer Lisa Mattila (D, 11,650) and Drain Inspector John Pekkala (D, 11,220) ran unopposed.

County board

In District 1, incumbent Republican Vice Chair Tom Tikkanen (2,325) defeated Democratic challenger Amber Brodersen (1,155). In District 2, incumbent Republican Chair Albert Koskela (2,577) defeated Democratic challenger Mark Pavolich (1,612). In District 3, Democratic Commissioner Glenn Anderson (1,842) defeated Republican challenger Dan Holcomb (1,578).

District 4 Democratic Commissioner Gretchen Janssen (1,615) and District 5 Republican Commissioner Roy Britz (3,547) ran unopposed.

Cities

In Hancock, John Haeussler (672) was elected to an at-large council seat ending Nov. 30, 2022 over James De Clerck (272), Margo Pizzi (502) and Robert Stites (307).

Ron Blau (432) was elected in Ward 1. Richard Freeman Jr. (600) was elected in Ward 2. In Ward 3, Kurt Rickard (299) defeated John Slivon (184).

In Houghton, Virginia Cole (1,000), Brian Irizarry (777) and Joan Suits (1,215) defeated Philip Foltz (716) and John Sullivan (742) for three council seats.

Townships

• Adams Township: Voters elected Gerald Heikkinen (D, 831) as supervisor; Debra Pindral (D, 857) as clerk; Tracy Immonen (R, 980) as treasurer; Diane Keranen (R, 924) and Paul Eister (no party affiliation, 358) as trustee.

• Calumet Township: Voters elected Timothy Gasperich (R, 2,486) as supervisor; Beth Salmela (R, 2,509) as clerk; Fay Mattson (R, 2,492) as treasurer; David Yeo (R, 2,167), Paul Lehto (R, 2,207), Jeff West (R, 2,099) and Thomas Helppi (R, 2,095) as trustees.

• Chassell Township: Voters elected David Mattson (no party affiliation, 744) as supervisor; Lynn Gierke (no party affiliation, 853) as clerk; Kelly Holmes (R, 900) as treasurer; and Ryan Kuntze (R, 820) and Daniel Palosaari (R, 888) as trustees. Township voters also approved a four-year, 2-mill renewal of the township road improvement millage, (758-352). The millage will raise an estimated $130,100.40 in its first year. Voters also approved a four-year, 1-mill renewal of the fire protection millage, (974-151). It will raise an estimated $65,050.20 in its first year.

Duncan Township: Voters elected Judy Huffman (NPA, 96) was elected supervisor; Kathleen Allen (NPA, 133) as clerk; and Sandy Margaritis (NPA, 121) as treasurer. Joy Sanford (NPA, 92) and Laurie Jo Houts (NPA, 64) were elected to two trustee seats over Fred Pitkanen (NPA, 46).

• Elm River Township: Voters elected John Reynolds (NPA, 136) as supervisor; Sherri Brandt (D, 141) as clerk; Cheryl Reynolds (NPA, 138) as treasurer; and Richard Trudgeon (D, 116) and David Saari (NPA, 108) as trustee.

• Franklin Township: Voters elected Mary Sears, (U.S. Taxpayers Party, 517) as supervisor; Tara Dulong (D, 536) as clerk; Jodi Mikesch (D, 524) as treasurer; and Lawrence Julio (D, 379) and Daniel Dulong Jr. (R, 562) as trustees.

• Hancock Township: Voters elected Michael Scott Young (R, 237) as supervisor, Lori Makela Young (R, 241) as clerk and James Moore (NPA, 204) as treasurer. Ronald Racine Sr. (R, 164), and Ken Moyle (NPA, 163) were elected to two trustee seats over Peter Giacoletto (NPA, 147).

• Laird Township: Brian Wilder (R, 163) was elected supervisor over Patrick McLaren (D, 148). Voters also elected Robin Henry (R, 254) as clerk; Nicole Krajnak (R, 250) as treasurer; Patricia Spencer (D, 156) and John Juntunen (R, 228) as trustees. Paul Peterson (R, 186) was elected constable over Francis Tossava (D, 120). Voters also approved a five-year, 1-mill fire department millage renewal (237-47). The millage will raise an estimated $17,000 in its first year.

• Osceola Township: Voters elected Mark Halkola (NPA, 702) as supervisor, Tracy Sleeman Houle (R, 843) as clerk, Christa Gardner (R,829) as treasurer; Donald Wareham (D, 534) and Aaron Janke (R, 706) as trustees.

• Portage Township: Voters elected Bruce Petersen (D, 1,142) as supervisor, Amy Skewes (R, 1,349) as clerk, Betsy Smith (D, 1,098) as treasurer; Peggy Anderson (D, 867), Bill Fink (D, 850), John Ollila (D, 860) and Bill Bingham (R, 1,167) as trustee; and Roy Britz (R, 1,218) and Robert Laux (R, 1,082) as constables.

• Quincy Township: Voters elected Glenn North (R, 134) as supervisor, Beth Helminen (R, 137) for clerk, Cheri Raasio (R, 136) as treasurer; and Dennis Raasio (R, 131) as trustee.

• Schoolcraft Township: Voters elected Joel Keranen (R, 800) as supervisor; Gary Wenberg (R, 780) as clerk; Dennis Racine (D, 702) as treasurer; and Susan Marcotte (D, 569) and Josh Loukus (R, 677) as trustes.

• Stanton Township: John Mattila (R, 595) defeated Glenn Ekdahl (D, 392) for supervisor. Voters elected Kara Heinonen (R, 826) as clerk; Lori Anderson (R, 827) as treasurer; and Mark Haataja (R, 645) and Michael Pionke (R, 671) as trustees over Ryall Purdy (NPA, 197).

• Torch Lake Township: Voters elected Brian Cadwell (D, 795) as supervisor, Mary Isola (D, 795) as clerk, Kathryn Moore (D, 753) as treasurer; and Scott Sapino (D, 554) and Lou Ambuehl (R, 891) as trustees.

Voters also approved a 1-mill, 10-year special assessment in Precinct 2 for improvements to fire, rescue and first responder services equipment (381-135). The millage will collect an estimated $52,250 in 2021.

Villages

In South Range, voters elected George Eakin (295) as president, Joe Morgan (263) as clerk, Lindsay Balma (272) as treasurer; and Cody Bonini (229), Kerry Jutila (190) and Joshua Saaranen (214) as trustees.

In Copper City, voters elected Rick Kasprzak (58) as president, Rebecca Kasprzak (58) as treasurer, and Reid Rastello (47) and Kim Spelich (60) as trustees.

In Calumet, voters elected Brian Abramson (152) president and Andrew Ranville (104) and Lori Weir (136) as trustees.

In Laurium, voters elected John Sullivan (648) as president; Patricia Golus (655) as clerk; Jon Koskiniemi (655) as treasurer; Jennifer Jenich-Laplander (513), Renee Salani (457), and Amy Schneiderhan (585) as trustees.

In Lake Linden, voters elected Glenn Schuldt (366) as president and John Codere (323), Allan Hoffman (295), Donald Moyle (273) and Jason Reese (257) as trustees.

School districts

In Adams Township School District, Justin Marier (702), Eric Mattila (690) and Ashley Wisniewski Sudderth (641) were elected to three six-year terms.

In Calumet Public Schools, Philip Halonen (1,709), Jason Wickstrom (1,942) and Daniel Zubiena (1,810) were elected to three six-year terms.

In Chassell Township Schools, Randal Danison (605), Kenneth Kytta (604) and Peter Torola (554) were elected to partial terms ending Dec. 31, 2024.

In Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools, Steven LeClaire (554) and Jennifer Stout (545) were elected to two six-year terms over Horst Schmidt (316).

In Elm River Township School District, Jason Moilanen (111) and Joe Romano (120) were elected to four-year terms. Elm River Township voters also approved a five-year, 18-mill operating millage renewal for the schools, (132-22). The millage will raise an estimated $336,600 in its first year.

In Hancock Public Schools, Charles Paoli (2,237) was elected to a six-year term, while Catherine Jordan (1,806), Dale Kero (1,811) and Rod Paavola (1,797) were elected to partial terms ending Dec. 31, 2022.

In Houghton-Portage Township Schools Brent Burns (1,870), Philip Foltz (1,954) and Amanda Massaway (1,934) were elected to six-year terms. Robert Fay (1,914) and Scott Leonard (2,105) were elected to partial terms ending Dec. 31, 2022.

In Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools, Stacey Sedar (1,372) was elected to a six-year term and Rob Johnson (1,294) was elected to a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2024. Voters also approved a three-year, .2085-mill increase to restore the millage to the level voters approved prior to a Headlee rollback (1,265-546). The increased millage will raise an estimated $3,000 in its first year.

In Stanton Township Public Schools, voters elected Jill Efraimson (562) and Bradley Pennala (598) to four-year terms.

In Laird Township, voters cast votes for Joan Bugni (189) and Allan Dantes Jr. (195) on the L’Anse Area Schools Board.

In Portage Township, residents cast votes for Megan Haataja (64), Steve Jahfetson (62), Bill Jondreau (32), Tony Loonsfoot (34), Lauren Scherr (20) and Irvin Smith (40) on the Baraga Area Schools board.

In Duncan Township, residents cast votes for Brian Amos (22), Bill Steiger (24) and Carol Allen Yakovich (26) to fill two positions in the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District race, and James Ojala (46) for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2022.

They also voted for Heather Borseth (37) and Samantha Schulz (45) for four-year terms on the Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District Board.

Voters overwhelmingly approved of State Proposal 1 (13,616-3,017) and State Proposal 2 (15,389-1,645).

Baraga County

Baraga County election results came in shortly after midnight on Wednesday, giving 2,512 Michigan votes to President Donald Trump and 1,475 to Joseph Biden. 4,069 total votes were cast.

Down-ballot, Joe Brogan won the race for county sheriff with a lead of more than 2,000 votes.

Wendy Goodreau won re-election as Baraga County Clerk and Register of Deeds against challenger Tammy Maggaragia, 2,713 to 1,237.

In county commissioner races, Gale Eilola won reelection over Liz Hakola by 198 votes. Mike Koskinen, the longest-serving commissioner in the Upper Peninsula, was unseated by Will Wiggins, who won a victory by 48 votes, 360 to 312. Lyle Olsen won the race for Bill Menge’s former seat over Fran Whitman. Whitman received 304 votes, and Olsen got 610. Bill Rolof and Dan Robillard were uncontested.