ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County experienced another red wave, with Republican candidates winning handily in the majority of races.
According to preliminary election results, fellow Republican Jamie Gathings will join Chairman Jeff Smart and Andy Grooms on the Richmond County Board of Commissioners in December.
Smart and Grooms were first elected in 2020, alongside Toni Maples.
Each of the three Republicans won at least 19% of the vote.
Democrat Linda Ross received the fourth most votes, followed by Cassandra (DeeDee) Wall and Deborah Washington Crumpton.
Voters appear to have stayed with the major political parties, as unaffiliated candidate Michael Legrand and Libertarian Richard Robinson polled significantly lower.
Legrand ran in 2020 and lost by 83 votes against Grooms following a recount.
Until 2020, the only Republican elected to the board in more than a century was Ben Moss, but the board became all-Republican in 2022 with the election of Justin Dawkins — who was appointed to fill the remainder of Moss’ term vacated following Moss’ 2020 election to the North Carolina House of Representatives — Robin Roberts, Jason Gainey, and Dr. Rick Watkins, the latter of whom switched parties.
As of 10:30 p.m., with 73% of precincts reporting, Moss appeared to be winning his reelection fight to state House District 52 by more than 60% over Moore County Democrat Jimmy Self. Moss won his home county of Richmond with 62.4% of the votes.
State Sen. Dave Craven, R-Randolph, also hoped to save his seat with a victory over Richmond County Democrat Kevin Clark.
District Court Judge Amanda (Amy) Wilson, Register of Deeds Kimberly Roberts, and Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Jeff Joyner each ran unopposed.
The RO will provide more information on how Richmond County voted in other state and national contests later.
All results are unofficial until canvassing.