Laraine Derr, of the Regional Accu-Vote Board, center, waits for her machine to print out a tally as she, David Clover, left, and Mary Foster count questioned and absentee ballots at the State of Alaska election office at the Mendenhall Mall on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. A recount of the contested Republican primary in House District 29 has confirmed Ben Carpenter the winner. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Laraine Derr, of the Regional Accu-Vote Board, center, waits for her machine to print out a tally as she, David Clover, left, and Mary Foster count questioned and absentee ballots at the State of Alaska election office at the Mendenhall Mall on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. A recount of the contested Republican primary in House District 29 has confirmed Ben Carpenter the winner. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Recount confirms House District 29 winner

Republican will face independent Shawn Butler in the general election

The Alaska Division of Elections has confirmed Benjamin Carpenter as the winner of the contested Republican primary election in House District 29.

The bipartisan State Ballot Counting Review Board and division employees recounted ballots Friday in Juneau. The recount narrowed Carpenter’s margin by one vote but didn’t change the result.

When the division certified the state’s primary election on Tuesday, Carpenter led challenger Wayne Ogle by 12 votes, 1,372 to 1,360.

The recount added three votes for Ogle and two to Carpenter’s tally, making the new margin 11 votes: 1,374 to 1,363.

Barring a legal challenge, Carpenter will advance to the general election, where he will face independent Shawn Butler, who won the Democratic primary unopposed. The Empire previously incorrectly reported that Butler had withdrawn from the race after the primary; she remains in the election and will appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

The winner of the race between Butler and Carpenter will replace Rep. Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, a former Speaker of the House and current House Minority Whip.

• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.

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