Local election results: Runoffs for House seats set

New district judge, WM school board member after March 5 vote

By THE TIMES NEWS STAFF

news@theeveningtimes.com

The results are in. The numbers for the 2024 preferential primaries, nonpartisan judicial elections and school board races were tallied last Tuesday night at the Eugene Woods Civic Center, with a number of races headed to a runoff.

In the Democratic primary, President Joe Biden garnered 1,803 out of 2,156 votes, while former President Donald Trump received 1,852 votes in the GOP primary. Neither candidate had any serious competition in their quests to earn their party’s nominations for the November vote. One of the most closely watched races in Crittenden County was the Democratic primary for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 35. With all the votes (unofficially) counted, Jessie McGruder led the field with 46.59 percent of the votes but failed to secure an outright majority. He will now face Raymond Whiteside, who received 23.78 percent of the votes, in a runoff next month.

“I feel good about the runoff although a few on my team are frustrated.” said McGruder, “We feel it is a flawed system, but I appreciate all those who voted for me. As for changing strategies or switching gears for the runoff, I’m not sure how many gears this car has, but I know I have to hit the gas and get there first.”

Whiteside, who would need to make up significant ground in the vote next month, said he is feeling equally optimistic.

“I’m just gonna keep being honest with my message that I want to help others and serve my community and that I think I’m running for the right reasons,” he said. “I feel I would be the best

See RUNOFFS, page A3

McGRUDER

WHITESIDE

BARNETT

LEONARD RUNOFFS

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representative for everybody and I’m gonna keep doing what I’m doing.”

Whichever Democrat comes out on top with the District 35 nomination, his opponent has already punched his own ticket to the November election. GOP voters overwhelmingly picked Robert Thorne Jr. (94.10 percent) over his opponent Gary Tobar (5.90 percent) in the Republican primary.

As for the other State Representative seat up for grabs locally, Tammi Bell was the lone Republican on the ballot for the District 63 nomination, but who she will face in November is as yet unclear after no candidate tallied a majority of votes in the Democratic primary.

Heading to a runoff are the top two _nishers: Hughes mayor Lincoln Barnett (48.43 percent) and West Memphis businessman Fred Leonard (42.29 percent).

In other local races of note, District 21 will have a new judge come Jan. 1, 2025. Tyler Ginn outpolled Tiarra Tanner 2,844 to 1,591 to win the race to replace longtime District Judge Fred Thorne.

The West Memphis School Board will also have a new look as Jack Poff Jr. defeated incumbent Anthony Hampton for the district’s At-Large No. 1 seat.

There were also a handful of contested Quorum Court races last Tuesday. In the Republican primary for the JP District 2 nomination, Albert Marconi topped Otis Rushing 300 to 51. The remaining primaries for the quorum court were all Democrats including:

■ JP District 3 – Stacy Allen 101, Patsy Hull 73

■ JP District 4 – Tamara Hood 186, Patsy Hull 73

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JP District 5 – Marco McClendon 134, Tyrone McWright 55

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JP District 7 – Rickey McCauley 160, Ronnie Marconi 117

■ JP District 10 – Jimmy Fraley 126, Dorothy Cooper 98 All other Crittenden County Quorum Court races were uncontested, with candidates moving directly to the Nov. 5 ballot.

Judicial Races

A number of nonpartisan judicial races were also held on Tuesday, including a seat on the highest court in the state up for grabs.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Position 1 Justice Karen Baker – 86,745 Justice Rhonda Wood – 84,028 Justice Barbara Womack Webb – 82,634 Jay Martin – 65,793 No candidate in the tightly- contested race received a majority of votes, so Baker (27.18 percent) and Wood (26.32 percent) will face each other in a runoff in November.

State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 2 Justice Courtney Hudson – 188,845 Carlton Jones – 124,478 Circuit Judge District 2, Division 4 Doug Brimhall – 12,731 Curtis Walker Jr. – 11,391 All results are considered unof_cial until certi_cation by the Crittenden County Board of Election Commissioners and the Arkansas Secretary of State.

The Crittenden County Election Commission has of_cially announced the 2024 Preferential Primary Run-Off will be held on April 2, Early Voting Dates and Times will be: Tuesday, March 26 through Friday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as Monday, April 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

As with the March 5 vote, Early Voting locations will be set up at the Marion Junior High School Arena, 801 Carter Drive, in Marion, as well as Missouri Street Church of Christ, 1600 N. Missouri Street, in West Memphis.

For Election Day voting, polls will be open Tuesday, April 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.