EDITOR’S NOTE: Early returns showed Michael B. Warren winning a seat on the Wayland Board of Education, but later data revealed Peter Zondervan was re-elected by about 70 votes.

Allegan County, as expected, went heavily for Republican Party candidates in Tuesday’s midterm general elections, but results were different in state-wide issues and races.

Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit, a Republican, appeared to be well ahead of Democrat Tom Ludwig in the contest for 43rd District State Representative and Angela Rigas seemed to have a comfortable lead in the 79th Districts, which takes in only Leighton Township in this county. Smit was picking up more than 70 percent in early returns.

In other words, the results appeared to be no different than in the past.

County voters preferred GOP candidate Tudor Dixon over incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but WOOD-TV Channel 8 was projecting the latter as the winner as of 9:30 p.m. The same was true for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, who fell short in Allegan County but were close enough (about 40 percent) to affect the state-wide outcomes.

In other words, there was some ticket splitting going on.

Incumbent Republicans Aric Nesbitt and Thomas Albert were winning handily in their senate districts, as was Fourth District GOP Congressman Bill Huizenga.

A slate of “conservative,” pro-parental rights candidates for seats on the Martin Board of Education was headed for solid victories. Newcomers Teri Bielby and Jason Dykstra joined incumbents Rodney Pillars, Jeff Brinkhuis and Vince Tuinstra in the winners’ circle.

Wayland’s school board races saw Jeff Koon, who spearheaded the bond issue in the August primary, former Supt. Norm Taylor and Peter Zondervan win the three open four-year seats. Incumbent Janel Hott defeated fellow incumbent Cinnamon Mellema for the two-year seat to complete the unfinished term of Jason Shane.

In the Wayland City election, Jennifer Antel was unopposed and became Wayland’s first-ever female mayor. Elected to council seats were incumbents Abe Garcia, Joe Kramer and Norm Taylor.

Martin Board of Education Trustee Austin Marsman lost his bid to become an Allegan County Commissioner, losing to Republican incumbent Gale Dugan in the Fifth District.

Incumbents Traci Rhodes and Stephanie Wilson were re-elected to four-year terms on the Hopkins Board of Education.