Amid a significant delay as voters were allowed to cast ballots into the late evening in Weber and Davis counties and around the state, Utah’s first general election returns came in just after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

In Utah House District 10, which Rep. Rosemary Lesser (D-Ogden) won by just 500 votes in 2022, the incumbent held a 5,215-4,935 vote lead over Jill Koford (R-Ogden), who was also her challenger in 2022.

Lesser, an OB/GYN and Air Force veteran who joined the State Legislature in 2021, told the Standard-Examiner that her top priority if reelected would be to expand access to prenatal care.

Koford, meanwhile, said she would address concerns that elected officials aren’t listening to their constituents.

Both candidates said they would also prioritize issues of affordability and cost of living.

“These escalating expenses are placing increasing pressure on families, and addressing them, and keeping government in its lane will be a top priority,” Koford said.

Incumbent Sen. John Johnson (R-North Ogden) held a lead over Ogden School Board member Stacy Bernal (D-Ogden) in multi-county Utah Senate District 3 at press time. 15,866 votes had been recorded for Johnson while Bernal had logged 12,923.

Johnson told the Standard-Examiner last month that he’s looking to build a stronger Utah for families.

“If re-elected, I’ll keep fighting for tax relief, efficient government and quality education without added burdens on families,” he said.

Bernal, meanwhile, said she was “committed to ensuring that our schools receive the support they need to help every student succeed” and also listed affordability, equitability and the environment as key focuses.

House Speaker Mike Schultz (R-Hooper) — a member of the Utah House since 2015 — led in House District 12. He led his challenger, West Haven Democrat Sharon Hilton, 9,113 votes to 3,626 at press time.

Prior to Election Day, Schultz told the Standard-Examiner that keeping the state government in check remains his top priority.

“We need to continue getting the power back to the hands of the people. That means amplifying your voice, but also keeping more money in your pockets rather than government coffers,” Schultz said.

In multi-county House District 6, incumbent Rep. Matt Gwynn (R-Farr West) held a significant lead Tuesday night. At press time, Gwynn had logged 6,503 votes to 1,850 for challenger Amber Hardy (D-Brigham City).

Gwynn, the Roy City police chief, assumed office in 2021.

Former Weber County GOP chairperson Jake Sawyer led the race for the seat to be vacated by Rep. Calvin Musselman (R-West Haven) — who has his sights set on the Utah Senate — Tuesday night. 5,832 votes had been recorded for Sawyer at press time compared to 3,916 for Ogden City Council member Angela Choberka and 439 for Libertarian Jacob Johnson.

In multi-county Senate District 4, Musselman ran unopposed. He will fill the seat currently occupied by Sen. Gregg Buxton (R-Roy), who opted not to seek reelection.

Multiple incumbent candidates in area House districts ran unopposed as well. That includes Ogden Republican Rep. Ryan Wilcox (House 7), Huntsville Republican Rep. Jason Kyle (House 8) and South Ogden Republican Rep. Katy Hall (House 11).

Elsewhere on ballots in Weber and Davis counties, Rod Hall (R-Layton) is the presumptive winner for the District 3 seat on the Utah Board of Education, with 39,468 votes at press time. 17,591 votes were recorded for Forward Party candidate Laura Johnson.

Tuesdays election results are unofficial/preliminary; vote counting will resume Wednesday morning.