The candidate with the highest number of votes wins. Why a candidate receives the most votes is a different question. In our May 7th issue, the Breeze identified contests which were of greatest interest (Unexpired term for County Commission [Republican], State Senator, 4th District [Republican], and three seats on the Board of Education) but declined to publish any predictions.

The Republican race for candidacy for the unexpired term of County Commissioner, District 1, was won by Zach Crede. Crede’s victory was no surprise. While he is a resident of District 1, he is better known in Districts 2 and 3 than are the other candidates. Vote turnout for the Primary was 50% higher for Districts 2 and 3 than for District 1. The Breeze would not have predicted a low turnout for District 1.

The three seats on the Board of Education were won by Brad Hodges, Tammy Sowards, and Butch Legg. Again, no surprise. Voting for the three reflected voter preference for the status quo.

The Republican 4th Senatorial District candidate will be Eric Tarr. The Breeze expected Tarr to win easily. This was not the case. Tarr was the top vote getter in both Putnam and throughout the entire 4th District. Tarr received 36.6% of the vote in Putnam and 38.8% district wide. Travis Willard finished second in total district vote with 31.4%. Phillip Surface recorded 32.2% in Putnam and 29.8% district wide. Willard’s showing was greater than the number which the Breeze expected to see.

Numbers determine elections and numbers can be projected. The Breeze projected a voter turnout for both Putnam County and the State to fall between 20 and 25%. The county turnout was 22.1% and statewide was 21.0%. The numbers for off-year elections (no Presidential candidates) cannot be compared to with Presidential year elections. May 2026 numbers should be compared with May 2022 numbers.

A direct comparison of 2022 and 2026 is not possible because nonpartisan voters could choose to vote a Republican ballot in 2022 but could not do so this year. That said, nonpartisan voter turnout in 2022 and this year should have been very similar because the overall voter turnout for the two elections was very similar, 22.8% and 22.1%.

Actual turnout for both Republicans and Democrats in 2022 is not known because nonpartisan voters could chose to vote either Republican or Democratic ballots that year. The actual Republican turnout this year was 25.8%. If 25.8% of the 18,571 registered Republicans in 2022 voted, the vote count would have been 4,785. In 2022, the Republican vote total (both Republican and nonpartisan) was 6,322. The number of nonpartisan voters who chose to vote Republican in 2022 projects to be 1,537 (17.2% of the 2022 nonpartisan registration total).

If 17.2% of 2026 nonpartisan registrants chose to vote the Democratic ballot, the Putnam County Democratic Party turnout would have swelled by 1,445. It is reasonable that close to 986 nonpartisan voters actually chose vote to the Democratic ballot this year because 582 nonpartisans chose the nonpartisan ballot (only 123 chose the nonpartisan ballot in 2022). The actual number of Democratic ballots voted this year was 2,783. This translates to an estimated 20.8% Democratic Party turnout.

2022/2026 Comparison Registration Vote

2026 Primary
Rep – 20,299 registered; 5,230 voted
Dem – 8,619 registered; 2,783 voted
Non – 8,391 registered; 582 voted
Turnout – 22.1%
2022 Primary
Rep – 18,571 registered; 6,322 voted
Dem – 10,407 registered; 2,279 voted
Non – 8,927 registered; 123 voted
Turnout – 22.8%

Putnam Election Results
U.S. Senator (Republican): Capito – 3,648 [72% Putnam, 66% Statewide]; House of Representatives (Republican), 1st District: Miller – 3,591 [73% Putnam, 72% in District]
U.S. Senator (Democratic): Anderson – 582 [23% Putnam, 33% Statewide]; House of Representatives (Democratic), 1st District: George – 1,399 [58% Putnam, 53% in District]
State Senate, 4th District (Republican): Tarr – 1,409 [37% Putnam, 39% District]
State Senate, 8th District (Republican): Wheeler – 420 [39% Putnam, 37% District]
State Senate, 4th District (Democratic): Abbott – [Unopposed]
State Senate, 8th District (Democratic): Hundley – [Unopposed]
House of Delegates, 19th District (Republican): Hess Crouse – [Unopposed]
House of Delegates, 20th District (Republican): Drennan – [Unopposed]
House of Delegates, 21st District (Republican): Caldwell – 802, Kidd – 731
House of Delegates, 19th District (Democratic): Rose – [Unopposed]
House of Delegates, 20th District (Democratic): Shuler – [Unopposed]
House of Delegates, 21st District (Democratic): Mosteller – [Unopposed]
State Supreme Court (Division 1): Titus (top in Putnam); Kirkpatrick (Statewide winner)
State Supreme Court (Division 2): Ewing (top in Putnam); Flanigan (Statewide winner)
Intermediate Court of Appeals: Greear (top in Putnam); Douglas (Statewide winner)
Putnam Circuit Court: Sorsaia (unopposed)
Board of Education (3 elected): Breck – 1,438, Hodges – 3,530, Brown – 2,268, Dillard – 2,368, Sowards – 3,224, Fertig – 2,202, Legg – 2,837
Conservation District Supervisor: Welch – 3,822; Withrow – 3,168
City of Hurricane Levy: For – 681; Against – 298