Salem-area voters showed little appetite for change Tuesday, with incumbents leading in all four of the Oregon House races representing Salem. Results as of 8 p.m. Tuesday show incumbents Kevin Mannix, Tracy Cramer, Paul Evans and Tom Andersen with sizable leads against challengers for their seats.  The first round of results included over 73,300 ballots in Marion County and 35,000 from Polk County. Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess estimated over 40,000 more ballots would come in from drop boxes, which closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday. House District 21 (Keizer and north Salem)  Incumbent Kevin Mannix, R, is ahead with 53.6% of the vote in the race for House District 21 covering Keizer and north Salem. His opponent, Salem City Councilor Virginia Stapleton, holds 46.4% of the vote. Dozens gathered for a watch party at the Keizer Civic Center Tuesday night, and after the initial vote came in shortly after 8 p.m., Mannix said he felt more relaxed and encouraged by his healthy lead. He also said he was “cautiously optimist.” “I’m committed to working for Oregon and for our entire community,” Mannix said at his election night party. “And I’m also focused on what I’ll call truth telling in terms of public policy. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I do think that as we engage in dialogue we can come up with solutions that can work for Oregon. And I’m pleased to see that that message has been resonating with enough of the voters in my district that I get a chance to keep doing it.” Rep. Kevin Mannix addresses dozens of guests at his watch party in Keizer on Tuesday after initial election results for House District 21 came in shortly after 8 p.m. (Joe Siess/Salem Reporter) The race for the seat was contentious and among the most expensive in the Oregon Legislature this year. With high stakes, both candidates scrutinized the others’ voting records and lobbed attacks in an attempt to sway voters leading up to Tuesday night.  “We’re feeling great,” Stapleton said, referring to early election night results. She said that they don’t expect to see final results until the weekend. “Tonight’s a night to celebrate with my team.” Mannix was a chief sponsor and architect of this year’s effort to repeal Oregon’s drug decriminalization law. The new law, House Bill 4002, mandates misdemeanor penalties for drug possession and emphasizes treatment in lieu of jail.  During his campaign, Mannix voiced support for making it easier to civilly commit people, a process where a judge orders someone to get mental health treatment. He also plans to use resources like the Oregon State Hospital to help address the mental health and addiction crisis.  Stapleton touted the knowledge and experience she gained serving on the city council and said that experience uniquely prepared her with the perspective necessary to tackle local government issues from the statehouse. She led the failed effort to implement a payroll tax in Salem as a way to shore up city services, something Mannix attacked her on repeatedly during the campaign. City Councilor Virginia Stapleton seeks to unseat Rep. Kevin Mannix in District 21  House District 19 (most of south Salem)  Incumbent Rep. Tom Andersen, D, held a significant lead in his bid for a second term. Andersen held 55.7% of the vote against challenger David Brown, R, an insurance franchise owner. Incumbent Rep. Tom Andersen celebrates winning his reelection to House District 19 against challenger David Brown at the Marion County Democrats party on Tuesday, Nov. 5. (Madeleine Moore/Salem Reporter) At Tuesday night’s Marion County Democrats party on Tuesday night, Andersen took to the stage for a second time after election results dropped at 8 p.m. “Important announcement from House District 19,” Andersen said. “I have been declared the winner.” Andersen, a former Salem city councilor, said that his top priorities upon seeking reelection are addressing the city’s budget shortfall through a special payment from the state, advancing policies to protect the environment and supporting education.Andersen plans to reintroduce a bill on civil commitment which would allow judges more flexibility in determining whether to require someone in a crisis get mental health treatment. He also said he supports more housing and more places for people to get mental health and addiction treatment. Brown listed his top campaign priorities as public safety, schools and the economy.  Brown challenges incumbent Andersen for south Salem seat House District 20 (West Salem, part of south Salem, Monmouth, Independence) Rep. Paul Evans, D, has a commanding lead in his bid for a sixth term, with 57.7% of the vote against challenger Kevin Chambers, R, a water well driller.Evans is an Air Force veteran who has held the seat since 2015. His top issues are emergency management, infrastructure and planning, and veterans services. He also wants to see Oregon boost school funding to the level a state commission has recommended to achieve the state’s educational goals. To address homelessness, Evans said Oregon needs more emergency shelters, behavioral health and addiction treatment, and needs to adjust its civil commitment law so it’s easier to order people into treatment when they’re a danger to themselves or others. Well driller seeks to unseat veteran legislator who serves West Salem, Polk County House District 22 (Parts of northeast Salem, Gervais and Woodburn) Incumbent Rep. Tracy Cramer, R, is ahead with 52.9% of the vote in her race for a second term against challenger Lesly Muñoz, D, as of the initial ballot count at 8 p.m. Tuesday. During her reelection campaign, Cramer, a small business owner from Gervais, said she prioritizes increasing school funding, addressing gang violence and supporting addiction treatment and housing services.  If reelected, Cramer said she would continue her work to support Oregon’s public charter schools. Muñoz challenges incumbent Cramer to represent northeast Salem and Woodburn STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected]. JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter. Click I want to subscribe! 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