Hempstead County was low on contested races for Tuesday’s general election but two incumbents with opponents easily won re-election. Incumbent Mark Ross defeated Allen Doyle Flowers in the race for Hope City Board, Ward 1. Ross polled 107 votes to 80 for Flowers.
In the race for Hope City Board, Ward 4, incumbent Linda Clark defeated challenger Billy Wayne Williams 73 to 19.
The only other race in Hempstead County with two candidates was for the Mayor of Emmet. Only a small part of Emmet is in Hempstead County. Trey Baker took all 3 Hempstead County votes with Ottis P. Otwell receiving none in Hempstead County.
In the Governor’s race in Hempstead County, Republican incumbent Sarah Huckabee Sanders polled 2,323 votes compared to 1.443 for Democrat Fred Love and 323 for Libertarian Colt Shelby. In the Lieutenant Governor’s race, Republican Leslie Rutledge defeated Libertarian Machael Kalagias by a wide margin. For Secretary of State in Hempstead County, Republican Kim Hammer polled 2,508 votes in Hempstead County compared to 1,408 for Democrat Kelly Grappe and 131 for Libertarian Michael Pakko. In the race for Commissioner of State Lands, Republican Cole Jester polled 2,662 votes in Hempstead County compared to 1,119 for Libertarian Christopher Olson. Attorney General Tim Griffin, State Treasurer John Thurston, and Auditor of State Dennis Milligan had no opponents in the general election.
In Hempstead County, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton polled 2,440 votes in Hempstead County compared to Democrat Hallie Shoffner with 1,515 and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin with 122. For 4th District Congressman in Hempstead County, incumbent Bruce Westerman polled 2,587 votes in Hempstead County compared to Democrat James “Rus” Russell III with 1,434.
Unopposed local candidates included District 88 State Representative Dolly Henley, Becky Hood for Circuit Clerk, and Jacob Bannister for Blevins Mayor. Other unopposed candidates in Hempstead County included McNab Mayor Shelia Jackson, Fulton Recorder/Treasurer Frances Hendrix, and Washington Mayor Paul G. Henley.
In the vote on hospital improvement bonds, the count was 2,575 for and 1,451 against.
On the state issues in Hempstead County, 3,110 voted for Issue #1 and 849 voted against. For Issue #2, 3,158 voted for the issue in Hempstead County and 818 against. On Issue #3 in Hempstead County 2,167 voted for the measure and 1,800 voted against. On Issue #4 in Hempstead County, 2,143 voted for the measure with 1.797 voting against the measure.