Pashinski on Way to Win 10th Term in State House of Representatives

Longtime incumbent holds commanding lead with nearly all votes counted

GOP easily fends off Democratic challenger in Tuesday's election

With nearly all the votes counted, Republican incumbent Tarah Toohil appears to have defeated Democratic challenger Nicole Ziccarelli in the race for the 145th state House of Representatives district. Toohil has represented the district since 2019 and is seeking her fifth term in the state House. Ziccarelli, a first-time candidate, ran on a platform of change and increased funding for public education.

As of Wednesday morning, Toohil had received 58% of the vote, while Ziccarelli had received 42%. A small number of absentee ballots remain to be counted, but they are unlikely to change the outcome of the race.

Toohil's victory is a sign of the continued strength of the Republican Party in the district. The 145th district is a heavily Republican district, and Toohil has consistently won re-election by large margins. In 2018, she defeated her Democratic challenger by 20 points.

Ziccarelli's loss is a setback for the Democratic Party, which had hoped to flip the 145th district. The district is one of several that Democrats targeted in the 2022 election. However, Democrats were unable to make significant gains in the state House, and Republicans remain in control of the chamber.

Toohil's victory is a reminder of the challenges facing Democrats in rural and suburban areas. The party has struggled to win over voters in these areas, and Republicans have been able to capitalize on the Democrats' weaknesses.

Ziccarelli's loss is a sign of the challenges facing first-time candidates. While she ran a strong campaign, she was unable to overcome the name recognition and incumbency advantage of Toohil.

The 2022 election was a disappointing one for Democrats, who had hoped to make significant gains in the state House. However, Republicans were able to hold on to their majority, and Toohil's victory is a sign of the continued strength of the Republican Party in the 145th district.