According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon voters in this week primary overwhelmingly rejected candidates who supported the armed occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

On the ballot in Harney County, some of the candidates had echoed anti-government rhetoric spouted by Ammon Bundy and other militia figureheads. But as voters flocked to the polls – with an all-time high of 72 percent of voter participation – candidates who expressed support for the occupiers were flatly rejected.

County judge Steve Grasty, who slammed the militants’ actions, will be replaced by current county commissioner Pete Runnels who garnered 53 percent of the vote. During the occupation of the refuge, the militants demanded that both Grasty and Runnels resign, along with Sheriff David Ward and county commissioner Dan Nichols, because of their opposition to the Bundy militants’ actions.

From Raw Story:

Nichols also won re-election after deciding at the last minute to run because he thought the county needed consistency in leadership after the occupation, which divided the community. Mark Owens, who works in the hay and farming industry, was elected to the county commission in his first foray into politics.

The Bundy brothers, including 20 other militants, have been indicted on federal charges in connection with their participation in the occupation and a similar armed standoff two years ago in Nevada.

Featured image: Peter K. Levy (Flickr)