Around 27% of registered voters in Platte County participated in the primary election on Tuesday, getting out in the summer sun on a day with a heat index nearing 110 degrees to cast ballots in an election that didn’t have much local draw. Local officials had predicted a voter turnout of 34%.
There were 9,577 Republican ballots cast in Platte County and 8,262 Democratic ballots, meaning 53% of Platte County voters asked for Republican ballots and 46% chose a Democratic ballot.
There was only one contested primary for a local office. That was a race for the Republican nomination for county recorder of deeds. In that race, Christopher L. Wright easily defeated Travis Youmans 4,808 to 3,132, 61% to 39%. Not much public campaigning for the spot had been performed by either candidate.
Longtime recorder of deeds Gloria Boyer is retiring. There is no Democratic candidate for recorder, so Wright now appears to have a clear path to the office.
In statewide races, Platte County Republicans followed the statewide trend in favoring Eric Schmitt for US Senate. Schmitt carried 54% of the vote in Platte County to 21% for Vicky Hartzler and 16% for Eric Greitens.
Schmitt, who is attorney general in Missouri, will now take on Democrat Trudy Busch-Valentine, who won the Democratic nomination for US Senate. But Platte County Democrats did not follow the state trend, instead favoring Lucas Kunce over Valentine by a margin of 42% to 40%.
Statewide results for the Republicans had Schmitt with 46%, Hartzler 22% and Greitens 19%.
Statewide results for the Democrats had Busch-Valentine with 43% and Kunce with 38%.
Republicans in Platte County followed the statewide trend for state auditor, favoring Scott Fitzpatrick 62% to 38% over David Gregory. Statewide, Fitzpatrick won by a margin of 65% to 35%.
For the Sixth District Congressional position, longtime incumbent Sam Graves easily carried Platte County on the Republican ticket, winning 78% of the vote. Graves will be challenged in November by Henry Martin, who won the Democratic nomination. Martin carried Platte County Democrats 49% to 32% for Charles West.
District-wide, Graves won with 76% of the vote and Martin won with 46%.
Other results in Platte County included voters in the Clemstone Sewer District approving a question to dissolve the district. The question was passed with 23 voters in favor and only three opposed.
For a complete list of Platte County vote totals go to https://www.plattemovotes.org/results.