Republican challengers Nathan Montgomery and John Cochrane swept Democratic incumbents Mark Campbell and Nick Carlson out of office in Tuesday’s general election.

Democratic Supervisor Bob Thode won his third term.

Beginning in January, Cochrane and Montgomery will join Supervisor Austin Hayek to form a three member majority on the five member board.

Thode and Supervisor Niki Conrad will be the remaining Democrats.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Connor Symens, of Duncombe, votes for the first time on Tuesday in Duncombe.

Newly elected Auditor Shaunna Abrams, a Republican, will add to the GOP’s strength in the courthouse when she replaces Doreen Pliner, the Democratic retiring auditor.

“We’ll always work to have fiscal responsibility,” Montgomery said when asked what Webster County residents could expect from a Republican-dominated Board of Supervisors.

Montgomery defeated Democratic Supervisor Mark Campbell by a margin of 64.16 percent to 35.66 percent, according to unofficial election returns released Tuesday night by Secretary of State Paul Pate.

Those results show Montgomery winning 2,485 votes to Campbell’s 1,556 votes.

Montgomery, of Burnside, will represent District 2, which is the southern half of the county.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
David Willhoite, of Duncombe, carries his grandson Wyatt Willhoite, 15 months, to the precinct during the 2024 general election on Tuesday in Duncombe.

“I would tend to want to focus on the rural areas,” he said.

He attributed his victory in part to getting an early start. He announced his candidacy in November 2023.

“I just want to congratulate Nathan,” Campbell said. “We built a good foundation for Webster County and I look forward to seeing it improve.”

Campbell was seeking his fourth term.

Cochrane will represent District 5, which is western Fort Dodge, Clare and rural areas of northwestern Webster County.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Lori Ferrari of Dayton put her “I Voted” sticker on after she voted in the 2024 general election on Tuesday in Duncombe.

Unofficial election results show that he defeated Carlson by a margin of 60.28 percent to 39.72 percent.

Cochrane won 1,318 votes and Carlson won 1,008 votes.

“It was nice to get the support of District 5,” Cochrane said. “I look forward to representing the people of District 5 as their supervisor.”

“It feels like District 5 was ready for a change and wants to start fighting eminent domain more than we have been,” he added.

Carlson couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday night.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Pamela Amos of Stratford voted in the 2024 general election on Tuesday in Duncombe.

Thode represents District 3, which is eastern Fort Dodge. He won his third term by defeating Republican Clayton Bills by a margin of 56.88 percent to 43.12 percent.

Thode received 1,259 votes to Bills’ 1,135 votes.

“The vote went to Bob,” Bills said. “Congratulations to him. He’s been a public servant most of his life.

“It was a close race and very humbling experience,” he added.

Thode could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Bernadette Ricke of Vincent, second from left, takes her mother, Phyillis Chance, of Vincent, to vote in the 2024 general election on Tuesday in Duncombe.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
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-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla

Libby Mitchel, of Duncombe, stands in line to vote at the Duncombe precinct on Tuesday.