Stockhorst, Freese, Polson win commissioner primary races

Republican Jeff Stockhorst was elected Eastern District Commissioner for Howard County during Tuesday’s Primary Election. Stockhorst took 57.86 percent of the vote with 357 ballots cast in his favor. Dean Fuemmeler finished with 178 and Blake Spry tallied 82. As there were no candidates for any other parties in the race, Stockhorst will assume the office.

In the Western District Commissioner Republican primary, Mathew Freese handily defeated Randy McMillan by a margin of 73.66 percent to 26.34 percent. Freese totaled 548 votes and will face Democrat Charlie Polson who defeated Mike Vroman 57.77 percent to 42.23 percent, or 305 to 223 votes, respectively.

Only 35.75 percent of Howard County voters turned out to the polls today. 

In the race for State Representative for District 48, Republican Tim Taylor was the favorite with 748 votes, or 67.21 percent of the Howard County vote. Don Baragary tallied 365 votes for 32.79 percent. Taylor will face William Betteridge who was unopposed in the Democrat primary. 

For United States Representative for District 4, Vicky Hartzler handily won the Howard County vote 1049 to 342 over challenger Neal Gist. 

In statewide races, Howard County resoundingly voted down Amendment 2 62.43 percent to 37.57 percent (1,487 against to 895 in favor), which would have expanded Medicaid in Missouri. 

Howard County Republicans overwhelmingly voted for party favorites Mike Parson and Mike Kehoe as nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. Likewise, Democrats easily handed approval for Democrat challenger Nicole Galloway for Governor. Alissa Canady won 62.48 percent of the county vote for Lieutenant Governor over Gregory Upchurch.