KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The presidential races got most of the attention, but the Knox County races in play Tuesday will affect voters more directly.
Winners included Kyle Hixson for Knox County Criminal Court judge and Eric Lutton as the county's district public defender. Both men had previously been appointed by Gov. Bill Lee to fill an unexpired term ahead of the Republican primary.
A total of about 83,000 votes were cast in the county, with about 35,000 voters casting early ballots, unofficial results show. Tuesday's actual turnout proved higher than what election administrators had expected.
Hixson garnered about 67 percent of the votes to 33 percent for Stone in the Republican primary. No Democrat is running.
Lutton beat Lee by grabbing 54 percent of the vote in a race that ended up being closer than many expected. Sherif Guindi is on the ballot as an Independent.
Veteran politicos expected the GOP race for Knox County law director to be close, but the actual split wasn't as competitive between David Buuck and Cathy Quist Shanks.
Buuck, currently the deputy law director, beat Shanks, former Knox County Circuit Court clerk, with about 60 percent to 40 percent in unofficial returns Tuesday night. Jackson Fenner is an Independent.
County Commission, School Board races
Several Knox County Commission races also were in play Tuesday.
The one upset: the race for District 1 commissioner. Dasha Lundy beat incumbent Evelyn Gill in the Democratic primary by less than 300 votes. No Republican is running for the seat, but Independent Reginald Jackson is a candidate.
In the Republican Party race for District 4, Kyle Ward easily beat Scott Broyles with 61 percent of the vote. Ward will face Democrat Todd Frommeyer in the general election.
In the Republican Party race for District 5, incumbent John Schoonmaker defeated Clayton Wood 52 percent to 48 percent. Schoonmaker will face Democrat Kimberly Peterson in the general election.
School board races, which are non-partisan in Knox County, also produced an upset.
Incumbent Tony Norman of District 3 lost to Daniel Watson, who got 55 percent of the vote.
Incumbent Jennifer Owen of District 2 held off John Meade, landing 58 percent of the vote. Observers expected that race to be closer than it proved to be.
Veteran board member Mike McMillan got 57 percent of the vote, turning back challengers Adam Brown and Leon Daugherty.
Property assessor
Veteran officeholder John Whitehead faced off against Tina Marshall in the Republican primary. Whitehead got 71 percent of the vote, unofficial final results show.