Incumbent Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, toppled Kodiak City Councilman Rich Walker in the Republican primary for House District 32, and will face Democratic challenger Dennis Harris, a Kodiak pharmacist, in the general election Nov. 6.
With 13 of 14 precincts reporting late on Aug. 21, Stutes had 831 votes, or 55 percent to 686 votes, or 45 percent, for Walker.
“It feels wonderful,” said Stutes, in a telephone interview with the majority of votes counted. “My district is Kodiak, Cordova, Yakutat, Seldovia. Over the years I have gotten to know all of my district and all of my district has gotten to know me.
“I love the people. We have a commonality amongst all of us. Our livelihood is fisheries and the Alaska Marine Highway System has a huge impact on all of our communities, and so it’s really comforting for me to know that when I’m fighting for one of them, I’m fighting for every one of them, and that keeps us a unit.”
