NEW MADRID, Mo. - A record number of New Madrid County voters cast their ballots early to ensure their voices were heard this November.
Combined with Tuesday’s vote, the message of support for the Republican Party was loud and clear. President Donald Trump and Vice President Michael R. Pence received almost 75 percent of the total votes cast by county residents.
According to New Madrid County Clerk Clement Cravens, there were just over a thousand absentee ballots cast prior to Tuesday’s election. This far surpassed the previous high of just over 400 absentee ballots recorded in the county in previous elections.
“The regular vote was a little down from what I thought it was going to be but at the same time we do have a thousand less registered voters than in 2016,” Cravens said as he was waiting for the final precinct votes to arrive. “So even though the actual count will probably end up less than the actual count was in 2016 it is going to be a higher percentage of voters. We voted 65 percent in 2016 and it looks like we are going to vote about 70 percent.”
With the arrival of the final precinct, unofficial totals provided by Cravens’ office show there were 7,312 votes cast, or 70.57 percent of the county’s 10,362 eligible voters.
None of the countywide candidates on the ballot faced opposition.
On the Republican ticket, 149th District State Rep. Don Rone polled 6,208 votes; Michael Kellams, 2,506 votes to be elected second district commissioner; and William (Bud) Cooper, had 5,939 votes to be elected to his first term as sheriff. Democratic incumbents and their vote totals were: First District Commissioner Bobby Aycock Jr., 3,146 votes; Assessor Jacob E. Johnson, 5,474 votes; Coroner George A. DeLisle, 5,549 votes; and Public Administrator Paula Scobey, 5,341 votes.
The only other local issue was in Portageville, where the city proposed imposing a use-tax on purchases made on the Internet or out-of-state. The proposal was overwhelmingly opposed with 781 Portageville residents casting no votes compared to 347 yes votes.
In the presidential election, the Trump-Pence ticket received 5,447 votes in New Madrid County, or 74.98 percent of the votes cast compared to 1,748 votes for Democrats Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris. Libertarians Jo Jorgensen and Jeremy (Spike) Cohen had 43 votes; the Green Party’s Howie Hawkins and Angela Nicole Walker, seven votes; and the Constitution Party’s Don Blankenship and William Mohr, three votes. There were 17 write-in votes.
The Republican preference continued on down the ticket in New Madrid County.
In the race for governor, Mike Parson garnered almost 75 percent of the vote with 5,338 ballots cast in his favor in the county. Democrat Nicole Galloway earned 1,723 votes; Libertarian Rik Combs, 89 votes; and Green Party’s Jerome Howard Bauer, 26 votes.
For lieutenant governor, Republican Mike Kehoe received 5,251 votes; Democrat Alissia Canady, 1,649 votes; Libertarian Bill Slantz, 101 votes; and Green Party’s Kelley Dragoo, 42 votes.
Republican John R. (Jay) Ashcroft had 5,508 votes to keep him in office as secretary of state. Democrat Yinka Faleti polled 1,359 votes; Libertarian Carl Herman Freese, 101 votes; Green Party’s Paul Lehmann, 56 votes; and Constitution Party’s Paul Venable, 42 votes.
Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican, was the pick by New Madrid County residents for state treasurer. Fitzpatrick had 5,266 votes; Democrat Vicki Lorenz Englund, 1,597 votes; Libertarian Nicolas (Nick) Kasoff, 104 votes; and Green Party’s Joseph Civettini, 41 votes.
New Madrid County residents opted for Republican Eric Schmitt for attorney general giving him 5,292 votes over 1,563 votes for Democrat Rich Finneran and 169 votes for Libertarian Kevin C. Babcock.
Incumbent Republican Jason Smith was the favorite of New Madrid County voters for the office of Eighth District representative. Smith polled 5,326 votes surpassing Democrat Kathy Ellis, who had 1,676 votes; and Libertarian Tom Schmitz who had 87 votes.
Republican Jason Bean was unopposed in the state senate race in the 25th District and received 6,201 votes in New Madrid County.
New Madrid County residents narrowly opposed Amendment 1 which would amend the Missouri Constitution to limit the terms of those serving as lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor and attorney general. There were 3,478 no votes to 3,254 yes votes.
On Amendment 3 which would change the redistricting process to allow the governor to appoint a commission to draw legislative districts there were 4,281 yes votes compared to 2,588 no votes.
In New Madrid County, Supreme Court Judge Patricia Breckinridge had 4,821 yes votes to retain her in office while there were 1,343 no votes. Judge Gary W. Lynch had 4,838 yes votes to remain on the Southern District Court of Appeals with 1,247 no votes in New Madrid County.