Local G.O.P. calls election "a show of unity"
{Incumbent commissioners Karen Watford (Left) and Chris Elliott (Right) celebrate election results. Photo Credits: Antionette Kerr/Davidson Local}
Early Tuesday evening Davidson County Republican Party chairman Chris Jessup thanked a room filled with election workers and politicians. During a watch party held at Morrison’s Grove Event Center Jessup called local landslide victories, “A show of unity for the Republican Party.”
It was a quiet night for Davidson County Democrats.
Karen Watford (R) Chris Elliott (R) Steve Shell (R) and Matt Mizell (R) were elected as County Commissioners. Former Lexington City Council Member Tonya Lanier (D) received 8.17 percent of the votes cast.
In Davidson County Ted Budd (R) received 50 percent of the vote to Cheri Beasley’s (D) 24.45 percent. The Associated Press called the Senate race for Budd late Tuesday. In the race to replace retiring Richard Burr (R), Beasley made several campaign stops in Davidson County.
Contributed Photo: Democratic Party chair JacQuez Johnson with Cheri Beasley during a campaign visit last week.
With most races falling along party lines, Democrats earned consistently 20 to 30 percent of local votes. This included a highly visible race between incumbent Judge Rosalind Baker (D) 29.17 and challenger David S. Doherty (R) 70.83 percent. Governor Roy Cooper made a historic appointment by naming Lexington-based attorney Rosalind Baker to serve as District Court Judge in Judicial District 22B. With a high BAR ranking, she filled the seat vacated by the Hon. April Wood. The selection made Baker the first African American female to hold the seat. Party insiders contribute “pressure” to vote a straight ticket to unseating Judge Baker. Facebook battles included threats to “remove” those publicly endorsing Democrat candidates over Republicans.
Several candidates promised to serve “all” of Davidson County. This included Sherrif Richie Simmons. After a heated primary, the Sherrif ran unopposed in the general election. “I am watching other Sherrif races right now. We have a saying…it’s not an “R” or a “D” it’s an “S” for us. We’re different.”
According to the most recent data from the NC BOE, Davidson County has 112,387 registered voters with 22,397 (D) 54,432 (R) 624 (Libertarian) and 34,934 (Unaffiliated).
Chris Elliott asked for prayer for incoming leadership noting that other counties are looking at the Davidson County GOP’s model. “We’re setting an example across the state.”
*Expect more hyperlocal election coverage.
