Incumbent Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, won the right to return to State Senate as the District 1 representative after defeating Nevada City resident and Democrat Julie Griffith-Flatter by a wide margin. The margin of victory was substantial with Gaines earning 182,358 votes (64 percent) with 84 percent of the precincts district wide reporting, with Griffith-Flatter earning 101,239 votes (36 percent). Griffith-Flatter fared better in her home county, garnering 11,725 votes (43 percent) to Gaines’ 15,473 votes (57 percent). “Senator Gaines is looking forward to continuing to represent Nevada County at the State Senate,” Steve Daley, chief of staff for Gaines, said …