(Updated: With comments from Day and Featherston and bio information)
Democratic state House candidates prevailed in three close races Thursday after election officials certified voting results in two counties.
Reps. Jason Probst and Jennifer Day as well as political newcomer Linda Featherston won their races when results were certified in Johnson and Reno counties.
Day, who was appointed to the House earlier this year to replace David Benson, defeated Republican Terry Frederick by 62 votes, 6,911-6,849 in District 48.
Frederick had led by 11 votes when the polls closed last Tuesday.
“I am really grateful that the voters had faith in me and the job that I’m doing,” Day said.
Day held onto a seat that once was held by Republican state Rep. Marvin Kleeb.
Republican Abe Rafie was appointed to the seat in 2017 after Kleeb retired.
But Benson, the former Blue Valley Schools superintendent, won the seat by 82 votes when he defeated Rafie in 2018.
Day has served as Democratic precinct committeewoman and once described herself as an advocate for fair elections.
She is a member of Moms Demand Action, the League of Women Voters, and the National Organization for Women.
She has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Pepperdine University.
Meanwhile, Featherston beat Republican Rashard Young by 67 votes, 7,130-7,063. She led by four votes after the polls closed last Tuesday night.
“The whole purpose of me running is to serve the community,” Featherston said.
“I appreciate District 16 trusting me to represent them, and I will work hard for them in Topeka,” she said.
“I was really proud to say that we ran a clean race and we told the truth from start to finish.”
Featherston has run an independent piano studio for 26 years. She also works as a volunteer in her profession and in the community.
She serves on the boards of the Kansas Music Teachers Association and the Kansas City Music Teachers Association. She’s presided over the Kansas music teacher group as its president for three years.
Out in Reno County, Democratic state Rep. Jason Probst won his race in the 102nd District against Republican challenger Jason Whitesel by 31 votes, 3,368-3,337.
Probst, who led by three votes after polls closed last week, will now get a second full term in the Kansas House.
He was appointed to the seat in 2017 to replace the late state Rep. Patsy Terrell.
The results of the three races will give Republicans an 86-seat majority in the House, up from the 84 they now enjoy.
