Voting numbers soar with 2020 election

By MELODY METZGER

Lamar Democrat

There was not much competition on the areawide level on the November 3 ballot, as the majority of the offices in Barton County were running unopposed. This was not the case on the national level, with the Republican party pulling ahead in an extremely strong race. The total percentage of voters casting their ballot in Barton County was an extremely high 69.74.

In the areawide contests, Ann Kelley received a total of 5514 votes for District 127 State Representative; Ben Reed, 2676 for District One Commissioner; Jeff Tucker, 2704 for District Two Commissioner; John Simpson, Sheriff, with 5419; Rick Johnson, Assessor, with a total of 5369 votes; Brittanica Born, Collector-Treasurer, receiving a total of 5321 votes and Sarah Rutledge, Coroner, receiving 5281. Julie O’Connor Hagen, running for Public Administrator, garnered 5294 votes. All of the above were running uncontested and were all Republican candidates.

In the national election, the Republican party also pulled far ahead in Barton County, with Republican candidates Trump/Pence receiving a total of 5168, while Democrats Biden/Harris received 844. Republican Mike Parson surpassed Democrat Nicole Galloway in the race for Governor, with 5114 votes to 816. Mike Kehoe, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, topped Democrat Alissia Canady, 5078 to 749. In the Secretary of State race, Republican candidate John R. “Jay” Ashcroft took 5194 votes, while Democrat Yinka Faleti received 610.

In the State Treasurer race, Republican candidate Scott Fitzpatrick received 5032 votes, while Democrat candidate Vicki Lorenz Englund received 761. Republican Eric Schmitt received 5064 votes in the race for Attorney General, while Democrat candidate Rich Finneran received 711. In the race for U.S. Representative – District 4, Republican candidate Vicky Hartzler amassed 5053 votes to Democrat candidate Lindsey Simmons’ 758 votes. Republican Rick Brattin topped Democrat candidate Raymond Kinney, 5067 votes to 835.

Regarding the Constitutional Amendments, Amendment No. 1 received 3154 votes, as compared to 2608 no votes, while Amendment No. 3 received 4191 yes votes, to 1687 no votes.

It was also approved to retain Judge Patricia Breckenridge on the Missouri Supreme Court, along with Judge Gary Welch on the southern district state court of appeals.

It was interesting to note that the total number of absentee ballots this year garnered the highest amount of votes, topping all of the eight individual precincts.