Bell County voters went to the polls Tuesday, but those who didn’t either mailed their ballots or cast them early via absentee due to COVID-19. Those who chose to mail their ballots had until June 23, the actual Election Day, to postmark their ballots. For that reason, Bell County Clerk Debbie Gambrel said ballots will be received through Saturday, June 27, and final election results from Bell County votes will not be released until Tuesday, June 30.
Tuesday’s totals are not final results, but Gambrel’s office has released the numbers as they stand at this time, excluding mail-in ballots.

U.S. Senate
In the race for U.S. Senate on the Republican ticket, incumbent Mitch McConnell currently leads the way with 1,380 votes. Trailing him in order are C. Wesley Morgan (69), Naren James (21), Kenneth Lowndes (21), Louis Grider (20), Wendell K. Crow (16), Nicholas Alsager (11), and Paul John Frangedakis (3).
On the Democratic ticket, local voters cast 223 votes for Amy McGrath. She is followed by Charles Booker (140), Maggie Jo Hilliard (25), Bennie J. Smith (21), Mike Broihier (20), Andrew J. Maynard (19), Mary Ann Tobin (18), Eric Rothmuller (4), John R. Sharpensteen (4), and Jimmy C. Ausbrooks (2).

U.S. President
Republican incumbent, President Donald Trump, was the lone candidate on his party’s ticket, but voters did have the option to select “uncommitted”. Trump received 1,552, while 59 voters selected the uncommitted option.
There were several Democratic candidates, and Joe Biden received more Bell County votes than any other with 223. The uncommitted option received 138 local votes. Others in the race were Bernie Sanders (51), Elizabeth Warren (14), Michael Bloomberg (12), Michael Bennet (11), Pete Buttigieg (10), Amy Klobuchar (8), Andrew Yang (8), Tom Steyer (5), John K. Delaney (4), Tulsi Gabbard (4), and Deval Patrick (0).

U.S. Representative, 5th Congressional District
Incumbent Harold “Hal” Rogers received 1,485 votes in the race for his seat, while challenger Gerardo Serrano collected 94 votes.

Look for complete results online at www.middlesboronews.com and in the Wednesday, July 1 issue of The Middlesboro News.