More than 60% of New Madrid County voters cast ballots

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A large turnout kept election judges busy at precincts throughout New Madrid County during Tuesday’s election. With no local contested elections or issues on the ballot, it was the national and state contests that brought voters to the polls.

According to unofficial numbers from the office of New Madrid County Clerk Amy Brown, voter turnout was 11,437 or 60.23% of eligible voters.

“I am really excited and proud how big of a turnout we have had,” Brown said following the election.

She pointed out some 1,100 New Madrid Country residents cast their ballots prior to Tuesday. The “no excuse” voting was something Brown said both she and her staff enjoyed.

“Many of those were people I don’t normally get to meet and some of them I have never met so we had the opportunity to visit with them and put names to faces,” Brown said. “I’m just really proud to meet our community and that they took a big interest in this election.”

New Madrid County voters overwhelmingly picked Donald J. Trump as their choice for president. The vote was 5,203 for Republicans Trump and JD Vance with 1,561 ballots cast for Democrats Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz. There were 34 votes for Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver and running mate Mike Ter Maat and Green party nominees Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware received 13 votes

Local races

Unopposed countywide incumbent candidates and their vote tallies were: State Representative District 149 Donnie Brown, 5,935 votes; 34th Judicial Circuit Judge Joshua D. Underwood, 5,922 votes; First District Commissioner Bobby Aycock, 3,502 votes; Second District Commissioner Michael Kellams, 2,335 votes; Assessor Jacob Johnson, 5,898 votes; Coroner George DeLisle, 5,977 votes; and Public Administrator Paula Scobey, 5,882 votes.

Elected to his first term as sheriff was Joey Higgerson, who was also unopposed. Higgerson had 6,038 ballots cast in his favor.

All the countywide candidates ran on the Republican ticket.

State and District races

Leading vote-getter in the race for state senator was Republican Josh Hawley with 5,068 votes in New Madrid County. Democrat Lucas Kunce had 1,433 votes; Libertarian W.C. Young, 70 votes, Better Party candidate Jared Young, 65 votes; and Green Party candidate Nathan Kline, 50 votes.

Republican Mike Kehoe was also the choice for local voters who gave him 5,231 votes to defeat Democrat Crystal Quade, 1,306 votes; Libertarian Bill Slantz, 79 votes; and Green Party candidate, Paul Lehmann, 63 votes.

For lieutenant governor, there were 4,698 ballots cast for Republican Dave Wasinger to make him the choice of a majority of county voters. The remaining votes in the race were 1,536 for Democrat Richard Brown; 133 for Libertarian Ken Iverson; and 157 for Danielle (Dani) Elliott with the Green Party.

In the secretary of state race, Republican Denny Hoskins was the top pick by New Madrid County voters. The count showed 4,803 votes for Hoskins; 1,505 for Democrat Barbara Phifer; 108 for Libertarian Carl Herman Freese; and 92 for Green Party candidate Jerome Bauer.

Vivek Malek, the Republican candidate, easily out-distanced his opponents in New Madrid County. Malek received 4,708 votes; Democrat Mark Osmack, 1,471 votes; Libertarian John A. Hartwig Jr., 251 votes; and Green Party candidate Reagan Haase, 92 votes.

Taking the most votes in the attorney general’s race in New Madrid County was Republican Andrew Bailey. The vote went as follows: Bailey, 5,085; Democrat Elad Jonathan Gross, 1,325; and Libertarian Ryan L. Munro, 121.

New Madrid County voters want to see Republican Jason Smith return to Washington, D.C. as their District 8 state representative. The vote tally was: Smith, 5,093; Democrat Randi McCallian, 1,373; and Libertarian Jake Dawson, 145.

Republican Jason Bean defeated Democrat Chuck Banks for District 25 senator in New Madrid County. Bean tallied 5,231 votes to Banks’s 1,360 votes.

Amendments/ Proposition A

Constitutional Amendment 2, which would allow licensed sports wagering in Missouri, was defeated in New Madrid County. The issue had 3, 688 no votes and 2,992 votes in favor.

On Constitutional Amendment 3, which removes Missouri’s ban on abortion, New Madrid County voters also opposed it. There were 4,434 no votes cast while 2,286 voters favored the issue.

The proposal to allow a gambling boat license at the Lake of the Ozarks also was opposed by local voters. There were 3,612 no votes and 2,922 yes votes on Constitutional Amendment 5.

Local voters opposed Amendment No. 6 as well. The amendment which would fund salaries and benefits for current and former law enforcement personnel had 3,422 no votes and 2,916 yes votes.

On Constitutional Amendment No. 7, there were 4,887 yes votes to 1,627 no votes on the issue which would prohibit ranked voting.

New Madrid County residents narrowly backed Proposition A to increase Missouri’s minimum wage. The tally showed 3,505 yes votes and 3,091 no votes.

Judges

The unofficial tally in New Madrid County on whether to retain judges was as follows:

Supreme Court Judge Kelly C. Broneic, 4,699 yes, 1,269 no; Supreme Court Judge Ginger K. Gooch, 4,618 yes, 1,330 no; Southern District Court of Appeals Becky J.W. Borthwick, 4,659 yes, 1,247 no; and Southern District Court of Appeal Judge Jennifer R. Growcock, 4,636 yes, 1,275 no.