State Rep. Donald Lehe, R-Brookston, won the Republican nomination in the race for House District 15, despite having fewer Lake County votes than challenger Richard Niemeyer, of Cedar Lake.
Lehe received 3,265 votes from voters in Lake, Benton, Newton and White counties, while Niemeyer received 2,094. Challenger Lon Childress, of Lowell, received 300, according to polling figures made available Wednesday.
The 15th District covers parts of Dyer, Lowell, Schererville and St. John in south Lake County and all or most of Benton, Newton and White counties.
Lehe received most of his support in Benton, Newton and White counties. He had 596 votes in Lake County to Niemeyer's 892. Childress garnered 60 in Lake.
Lehe was pleased with the support he received in Lake County, even though Childress received most of the votes.
"I knew Lake (County) would be difficult," Lehe said.
