Incumbent State Representative Regina Bunch, R-Williamsburg cleared her first hurdle to re-election Tuesday night, overwhelmingly defeating challenger Alex Patrick in the Republican primary contest in the 82nd house district.
“I’m very pleased,” said Bunch, who will face democrat Bill Conn in the General Election.
“I just think that it confirms that if you stay positive and be accessible, accountable and transparent that people appreciate it,” she said.
Bunch racked up a total of 2,995 votes in the district made up of Whitley and southern Laurel County to the 25-year-old Patrick’s 1,352. In Whitley County, Bunch won by 40 percentage points, garnering 2,604 votes to Patrick’s 1,081.
In Laurel County, Bunch came away with 391 votes to Patrick’s 271.
Patrick, for whom Tuesday was his first political race, called the defeat part of a learning process.
“I learned what I need to work on the next time,” Patrick said. “I need to knock on more doors.”
Patrick said he doesn’t know what office he may seek in the future or when that might be, but said the door on his political career is not closed.
Patrick was upbeat about the experience.
“This is the glory of our political system. There has to be a winner and loser,” Patrick said. “You can’t win them all.”
Bunch said she would continue to do what she has done in the run up to the General Election.
“I just plan to stay consistent and informative,” Bunch said adding that she will be doing several speaking engagements for local groups such as the Kiwanis.
“I will just continue to serve as I have,” Bunch said.
