State Rep. Andrea Lea of Russellville has advanced to November's general election as the Republican Party's nominee for Arkansas auditor.
Lea defeated Ken Yang of Benton in balloting Tuesday. With 1,112 of 2,459 precincts reporting at 10 p.m., Lea had 66,702 votes, or 68 percent, over Yang's 30,805 votes, or 32 percent.
Lea will face Democrat Regina Hampton Stewart and Libertarian Brian Leach on Nov. 4.
During her campaign, Lea cited her experience as a former Pope County justice of the peace, a city council member and a three-term legislator. Yang recently graduated from Hendrix College with a history degree and is the chief financial officer for his family's restaurant in Benton. He was campaign manager for Secretary of State Mark Martin in 2010.
The incumbent is Charlie Daniels, who has announced plans to retire when his four-year term expires in January.
