ELECTION RESULTS: In Guilford County, a mixed bag with incumbents winning majority of races

Featured photo: Election Day at Warnersville Recreation Center, Greensboro, NC. (photo by Carolyn de Berry)

In keeping with a common pattern of past elections, incumbents came out on top in many of the Guilford County races on Tuesday evening. 

By 10:45 p.m., all 165 of the precincts in the county had reported their numbers for a total of 186,240 or 49.24 percent of ballots cast.

The overall turnout for this year’s general election was 16,284 ballots fewer than the November 2018 midterm election.

While some key federal races — like the Senate contest between Republican incumbent Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley — went to Republicans, many Democratic incumbents came out on top in the local races.

For state Senate, Democratic incumbents Michael Garrett (D-27) and Gladys Robinson (D-28) easily won re-election, with Garrett garnering 54.4 percent of the vote and Robinson sweeping Paul Schumacher with 72.9 percent of the vote.

For state House, incumbents won every single seat in Guilford County, with Democrats Ashton Clemmons (D-57), Amos Quick (D-58), Cecil Brockman (D-60) and Pricey Harrison (D-61) winning their seats and Republicans Jon Hardister (D-59) and John Faircloth (D-62) reclaiming theirs. The closest race was Faircloth’s, who won re-election against Democrat Brandon Gray by less than 5 percentage points.

Republicans picked up a supermajority in the state Senate but failed to achieve one in the state House, securing the power of Gov. Cooper’s veto, according to reporting by the News & Observer.

In the down ballot races at the county level, incumbents and former politicians once again came out victorious.

In the races for Guilford County commission, Democratic incumbents Kay Cashion (At-large), Carlvena Foster (District 1) and Frankie Jones (District 7) all won their seats while incumbent Republican Alan Perdue (District 2) easily won his seat, as well.

Republican Pat Tillman, who beat Democrat Derek Mobley by 3.3 percent, will be a fresh face on county commission but will likely be recognized by constituents due to his former stint on the Guilford County school board.

In the Guilford County school board races, the parties were split with two Democrats and two Republicans picking up seats in contested races. For the open at-large seat, Democrat Alan Sherouse beat Republican Demetria Carter by about 10 percentage points, while Democratic incumbent Khem Irby beat Republican Tim Andrew by close to 5 points in District 6. Republican newcomer Crissy Pratt (District 2) and incumbent Linda Welborn (District 4) also won their races. Deena Hayes, a Democrat, won the seat for District 8, which was uncontested.

Lastly, another familiar face won re-election in the Guilford County sheriff’s race as incumbent Democrat Danny Rogers fought off Republican Phil Byrd, bringing in a little more than 11 percent of the vote.

Read about the federal election results here. Find Forsyth County results here.