Unofficial results are in for the March 3 primary election, in Mitchell County and across the state.
The local race with the most candidates was the Republican primary for the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners. The Mitchell County Democratic Party did not have candidates registered to run for commissioner.
In the commissioners’ race, six candidates signed up to run for three seats. The winners were incumbent Steve Pitman (20.51 percent, or 2,181 votes), incumbent Harley Masters (19.28 percent, or 2,051 votes) and newcomer Vic Burleson (18.7 percent, or 1,989 votes).
Of those who didn’t make it past the finish line, Donald Street had the most votes (1,968, or 18.5 percent), followed by incumbent Jeff Harding (1,795/16.88 percent) and newcomer Becky Grant (652/6.13 percent). Street is the retiring Mitchell County sheriff.
Shane Vance won the Republican primary for the Mitchell County Sheriff seat with 2,265 votes (51.5 percent), versus Cecil Hobson’s 2,133 votes (48.5 percent).
There also was not a Democratic primary election for the position of sheriff.
In the clerk of superior court, incumbent Shana Buchanan won with 3,618 votes (84.93 percent). Challenger David Wheeler received 642 votes (15.07 percent).
Eric Eller won the Republican nomination for district judge, defeating S. Justin Ray.
In state and regional races, the open U.S. Senate seat had the most interest from candidates. Former Gov. Roy Cooper easily won the Democratic nomination, with 88.82 percent of the Mitchell County Democratic vote (405 votes total).
In the Republican primary, Michael Whatley, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, also handily won the nomination for U.S. Senate. In Mitchell County, he received 1,947 votes (55.58 percent), with the other half of Mitchell County Republican voters divided between the remaining six candidates.
In the U.S. House of Representatives District 11 race, incumbent Chuck Edwards won the Republican nomination again, and he will face off in November against Democrat Jamie Ager.