In one of the more anticipated election days in recent history, voters rallied to polls on Tuesday and many even exploited the opportunity to exercise their right to vote early. Races at the national, state and local levels were of esteemed interest, causing a massive turnout.
Early on Tuesday, Benton County Clerk Susan Porterfield said, "It's been extremely busy at all polling locations, but has gone smoothly."
Below are unofficial results for Benton County as submitted to the Benton County Enterprise at approximately 9:30 PM on Tuesday evening by the office of the Benton County Clerk.
For President and Vice-President: Donald J. Trump/J.D. Vance (Rep), 8,512; Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (Dem), 2,165; Chase Oliver/Mike Ter Maat (Lib), 50; Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (Grn), 27.
For United States Senator: Josh Hawley (Rep), 7,954; Lucas Kunce (Dem), 2,466; W.C. Young (Lib), 110; Jared Young (Btr), 78: Nathan Kline (Grn), 66.
For Governor: Mike Kehoe (Rep), 8,137; Crystal Quade (Dem), 2,228: Bill Slantz (Lib), 178; Paul Lehmann (Grn), 77.
For Lieutenant Governor: Dave Wasinger (Rep), 7,880: Richard Brown (Dem), 2,114; Ken Iverson (Lib), 222; Danielle (Dani) Elliott (Grn), 244.
For Secretary of State: Denny Hoskins (Rep), 7,961; Barbara Phifer (Dem), 2,178; Carl Herman Freese (Lib), 169; Jerome Bauer (Grn), 134.
For State Treasurer: Vivek Malek (Rep), 7,792; Mark Osmack (Dem), 2,025; John A. Hartwig, Jr. (Lib), 445; Reagan Haase (Grn), 192.
For Attorney General: Andrew Bailey (Rep), 8,342; Elad Jonathan Gross (Dem), 1,884; Ryan L. Munro (Lib), 228.
For United States Representative District 4: Mark Alford (Rep), 8,265; Jeanette Cass (Dem), 1,954; Thomas Holbrook (Lib), 296.
For State Representative District 57: Rodger L. Reedy (Rep), 7,276; Michael D. Walbom (Dem), 1,496.
For State Representative District 126: Jim Kalberloh (Rep), 1,283; Kirsten Hockaday (Dem), 439.
For Circuit Judge Circuit 27: M. Brandon Baker (Rep), 9,129.
For North District Commissioner: Scott Harms (Rep), 4,710.
For South District Commissioner: Larry Berry (Rep), 3,438; Mark Breshears (Dem), 1,855.
For Sheriff: Eric Knox (Rep), 9,109.
For Assessor: Jim Hansen (Rep), 9,450.
For Coroner: J. Weston Miller (Rep), 9,380.
For Surveyor: Shaun M. Marshall (Rep), 9,241.
For Public Administrator: Lori Johnson Schroder (Rep), 9,186.
For Missouri Supreme Court Judges
-Shall Judge KELLY C. BRONIEC of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office?
Yes, 7,291; No, 2,267.
-Shall Judge GINGER K. GOOCH of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office?
Yes, 7,133; No, 2,382.
For Missouri Court of Appeals Judge, Western District
-Shall Judge CYNTHIA LYNETTE MARTIN of the Wester District Court of Appeals be retained in office?
Yes, 6,969; No, 2,470.
-Shall Judge JANET L. SUTTON of the Western District Court of Appeals be retained in office?
Yes, 7,171; No, 2,240.
-Shall Judge GARY D. WITT of the Western District Court of Appeals be retained in office?Yes, 6,987; No, 2,443.
Constitutional Amendment No. 2
Do you want lo amend the Missouri Constitution to:
-allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators;
-restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21;
-allow license fees prescribed by the Commission and a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for education after expenses incurred by the Commission and required funding of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund; and
-allow for the general assembly to enact laws consistent with this amendment? State governmental entitles estimate onetime costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million, and initial license fee revenue of $11.75 million. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
Yes, 4,696; No, 5,971.
Constitutional Amendment No. 3
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
-establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid;
-remove Missouri's ban on abortion:
-allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient;
-require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care; and
-allow abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman?
State governmental entitles estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entitles estimate costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue.
Yes, 4,001; No, 6,671.
Constitutional Amendment No. 5
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
-allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license to operate on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam;
-require the prescribed location shall include artificial spaces that contain water and are within 500 feet of the 100year base flood elevation as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
-require all state revenues derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education?
State governmental entities estimate one time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
Yes, 5,062; No, 5,499.
Constitutional Amendment No. 6
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?
State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.
Yes, 4,607; No, 5,513.
Constitutional Amendment No. 7
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
-Make the Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the United States to vote;
•Prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue; and
•Require the plurality winner of a political party primary to be the single candidate at a general election?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Yes, 8,267; No, 2,147.
Proposition A
Do you want to amend Missouri law to:
-increase minimum wage January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour, increasing S1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage would be $15.00 per hour,
•adjust minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index each January beginning in 2027;
•require all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked;
•allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide oversight and enforcement; and
•exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions?
State governmental entitles estimate one-time costs ranging from $0 to $53,000, and ongoing costs ranging from $0 to at least $256,000 per year by 2027. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.
Yes, 5,043; No, 5,534.
Cole Camp Ambulance District Question
Shall the board of directors of the Cole Camp Ambulance District be authorized to levy an increase to the existing annual tax rate by an additional $0.20 per one hundred dollars valuation, the revenues of which shall be used to continue the operation of the district in providing ambulance services to its citizens, provided that each increase shall cease after a period of time?
Yes, 1,495; No, 871.
