Numbers have been updated to reflect the final number of votes, putting Mandrell in second and adding further comments on the race.
HANCOCK COUNTY – As the final votes were tallied in, supporters and family of Ethan Lawson celebrated as he won the Republican candidate seat for State Representative of District 53.
Lawson won the primary with 2,982 votes while Kevin Mandrell had 2,319, Keely Butrum had 2,205 votes and Brian Evans finished with 1,324.
Lawson’s initial reaction was that he was grateful to God, family, friends and the people he met knocking on thousands of doors across Hancock and Madison counties to help him secure the seat for Republican candidate.
“I really think if you’re going to represent people, you’ve got to get out and meet people and hear what’s on their mind,” Lawson said. “And doing that I think has put us in the position we’re in tonight, so I’m pretty grateful.”
Lawson was joined with his wife, Holly, along with his father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Mandrell said, with the primaries over, he does not have any future plans as of election night, but he did enjoy being able to meet people and hang out with friends and some of the other candidates during the day at voting centers.
“Although the results didn’t go my way, I did call Ethan and congratulated him on his win.
I know he and his family work tirelessly out campaigning and knocking on doors across the district,” Mandrell said.
Butrum, who came in third, will finish out her term on county council until the end of the year and plans to spend her time on her interests in work and her family.
Butrum said that she was thankful to those who supported her campaign over the last six months and also wanted to congratulate Lawson on being the Republican candidate to represent.
“Undoubtedly, Ethan Lawson was the hardest-working candidate this campaign season and it showed,” Butrum said. “I truly believe that Ethan is going to represent us well … I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish for us at the Statehouse.”
Evans also said that he wanted to congratulate Lawson, and said that Lawson and his family had worked hard, earning the nomination.
“I am happy that Ethan ran a clean campaign because not every candidate did,” Evans said.
Evans said his plans for now are to focus on being a dad and his work in non-profit management and workforce development but would also be more than happy serving at the city or county level if the opportunity arises.
As the Annex Center began to empty with many going home, Lawson and his family and friends were some of the last to leave.
Lawson said that he is grateful to the other candidates who ran in the race and had honorable campaigns.
“I know they put in a lot of hard work and received a lot of votes, too, and I look forward to representing all Hancock and Madison counties hopefully after the November election,” Lawson said.
The seat for District 53 opened after State Rep. Bob Cherry (R-Greenfield) announced his retirement earlier this year, serving approximately 25 years in office.
Now with the primaries finished, Lawson will run against his Democratic opponent Nate Anderson in the 2024 general election in November.
