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L’ANSE -- Baraga County voters turned out at a 60.05 percent clip for Tuesday’s+ general election, casting 3,541 ballots out of 5,897 registered electors to approve local education funding and deliver clear majorities to the Republican column in state and federal contests, according to unofficial summary reports.
On the local educational ticket, county voters overwhelmingly approved the Copper Country Intermediate School District (ISD) Special Education Millage Proposal. The measure drew a 59.16 percent voter turnout within its scope, passing with 2,019 “yes” votes to 1,033 “no” votes.
In the federal and state partisan columns, Republican candidates established decisive local leads across all major tickets. For United States Senator, Republican Mike Rogers captured 2,096 votes over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's 1,316. Third-party candidates drew minor tallies: Lydia Christensen (LIB) took 50 votes, Tim Long (UST) earned 24, Douglas P. Marsh (GRN) received 12, and Walter P. Kristy (NL) picked up 10, alongside three unresolved write-in ballots.
In the race for Representative in Congress for the 1st District, incumbent Republican Jack Bergman led with 2,045 votes against Democratic challenger Callie Barr's 1,374. Down-ballot candidates included Liz Hakola (WC) with 49 votes, Arnett Satterla (LIB) with 21, Zebulon Featherly (NPA) with 10, Doc Kovaly (UST) with 9, and LaVeta Davenport (GRN) with 7, with two write-in ballots recorded.
The partisan line held firm in state-level contests:
• Attorney General: Republican Doug Lloyd secured 2,054 votes over Democrat Eli Savit's 1,278. Minor tallies went to Jason Dye (LIB) with 52, John Perry Ludtke Jr. (UST) with 33, Jeff Polonowski (GRN) with 19, and Doug Dern (NL) with 18, with three write-in ballots logged.
• State Senator (38th District): Republican David Prestin logged 2,007 votes, outpacing Democrat Kelli J. Van Ginhoven's 1,180 and nonpartisan candidate Sara Cambensy's 290, with three write-in ballots marked.
• Representative in State Legislature (109th District): Republican Karl Bohnak recorded 2,172 votes to defeat Democrat Anna Aho Rink, who received 1,313 votes, with six write-in ballots cast.
County and municipal positions saw several unopposed runs alongside competitive local village trustee scrambles. Republican Ashley Kristo ran unopposed for County Treasurer for a partial term ending December 31, 2028, securing 2,576 votes and 68 write-ins.
In nonpartisan judicial contests, incumbent Brittany A. Bulleit ran unopposed for Judge of the Circuit Court for the 12th Circuit, logging 2,157 votes and 44 write-ins. Incumbent Nicholas J. Daavettila also ran unopposed to retain his seat as Judge of the District Court for the 97th District, collecting 2,182 votes and 40 write-ins.
Municipal leadership outcomes across the county's two main villages showed varied turnout:
• Village of L’Anse: Turnout reached 59.26 percent, with 829 ballots cast out of 1,399 electors. Ronald E. Ervast ran unopposed for Village President, locking in 594 votes and 12 write-ins. In a three-way race for three open Village Trustee seats, William T. Menge led the field with 510 votes, followed closely by Kristina Waara with 485 votes and Leann M. Davis with 445 votes, alongside 10 write-ins.
• Village of Baraga: Turnout stopped at 48.08 percent, with 388 ballots cast out of 807 electors. Scott Lee Koski ran unopposed for Village President with 227 votes and 11 write-ins. For the two open Village Trustee four-year terms, Tony Cerroni secured 247 votes and Paul Stark took 214 votes, with 6 write-ins recorded. For the two open trustee partial terms ending November 30, 2028, Sandra Johnson earned 244 votes and John Westman logged 201 votes, with 4 write-ins counted.
Local school boards finalized the unofficial ledger. In the Arvon Township School District, where voters cast 332 ballots out of 478 registered electors for a 69.46 percent turnout, Kimberly Sue Miron secured a Board Member seat with 215 votes in a “vote for two” contest, with three write-in ballots marked. In the Baraga Area Schools Board Member contest where voters selected up to four candidates, Sue Wilson led the pack with 715 votes. She was followed by Sherri Goodreau with 629 votes, Michael P. Lahti with 628 votes, and Carmen Larson with 627 votes, out of 1,174 total ballots cast from 2,082 registered electors (56.39 percent turnout), with nine write-in ballots recorded.