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Onslow County voters backed Republican candidates at the state and local levels on Election Day.

College student and 22-year-old Republican candidate Wyatt Gable won the state House District 14 race with 16,573 votes, 66.31% of the vote, against Democratic candidate and real estate broker Carmen Spicer who received 8,419 votes, 33.69% of the vote, late Tuesday when 90% of precincts reported results.

Gable first made headlines in March after winning the Republican primary over long-time Republican incumbent George Cleveland.

"I'm very excited. I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that helped me along the way. I couldn't have done it without all their help and I'm just ready to get to work now," Gable said Tuesday night.

"Thank you to Rep. Cleveland for representing our district for 20 years and I hope to be able to achieve everything that he did and more."

The race with the most candidates in Onslow County was the Board of Education, with seven vying for four seats.

Just like in March's primary, former educator Michele Halley, a Republican, led the vote with 45,320, followed by former educator and administrator Susanne Long, a Republican, with 43,135 votes, Jacksonville police Lt. Phillip Williams, a Republican, with 42,478 votes, and incumbent Republican Elbert Garvey with 41,920.

Democratic candidates Tanyetta Hill, Allison Page, and Robert Lefevers fell behind with 22,098, 19,145, and 15,862 votes, respectively.

"The winner tonight was Onslow County Schools and the children," Halley said Tuesday. "If it's not for the children, then I don't know what we're in it for."

Halley added that she's humbled.

"It's just good to know that there's enough concerned citizens that want to make sure that we have a better tomorrow for our children," she said.

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners also had four seats up for grabs this election with two incumbents seeking reelection.

All four Republican candidates, including both incumbents, took seats, the top vote-getter being Swansboro Mayor John Davis with 45,699 votes.

He was followed by current board vice chairman Robin Knapp with 44,499 votes, former commissioner Tony Padgett with 43,822 votes, and incumbent Paul Buchanan with 43,059 votes.

Democratic candidate and math teacher Velvet Scoggin fell short with 25,591 votes.

In the state House District 15 race, long-time Republican incumbent Phillip Shepard led in the race with 29,093 votes, 64.05%, over Democratic candidate Christopher Schulte who pulled in 11,588 votes, 31.05%, by 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, when more than 90% of the precinct results were tallied.

Incumbent Republican Michael Lazzara also had a strong lead in the state Senate District 6 race late Tuesday with 53,131 votes, 69.78% of the vote, against Democratic challenger Andi Morrow who received 23,006 votes, 30.22%.

All election results are unofficial until the canvass of the votes on Nov. 15.

The canvass ensures votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed. During the canvass, election officials consider challenges to votes and process provisional ballots and absentee ballots received after Election Day.

The canvass process is required by law and is held after every election.