
2020 election one for the history books
(November 12, 2020 Issue)
By Alan Hodge
alan@cfmedia.info
The 2020 General Election last week is one that will go down in history.
The local voting scene was pretty much wrapped up quickly. The national Presidential scenario not so much.
Early voting was the name of the game across the board. In Gaston County alone, 63.24 percent (95,449) of the 150,704 registered voters cast their ballots before the Nov. 3 election day came along.
Visits to local polling places confirmed that fact. This reporter visited polling locations in Mt. Holly, Belmont, Cramerton, and Catawba Heights and the long lines of voters that some folks had feared were not in evidence.
Neil Chastain had arrived early at the Belmont Central Elementary polling place and had this to say.
“I was here at 6:30 am and there were about fifty people in line but the line dwindled quickly,” he said.
At the Mt. Holly polling place, poll chief Tina Sagasi gave this report.
“After early voting was over, there were only about 1,600 voters in this precinct who had not voted,” she said.
Poll chief Jonathan Baines at Cramerton gave his observation.
“It has been steady, but slow,” he said.
Catawba Heights poll chief Jeremy McCarey called the turnout “steady”.
At press time, here are the numbers.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper (DEM) defeated challenger Dan Forest (REP) 2,803,782 (51.48%) to 2,563,258 (47.06%)
In the contest for U.S. Senator, incumbent Thom Tillis (REP) beat challenger Cal Cunningham (DEM) 2,640,381 (48.73%) to 2,543,693 (46.94%).
The U.S. House of Representative District 5 race witnessed Virginia Foxx (REP) beat David Brown (DEM) 255,767 (67.02%) to 118,444 (31.04%).
Closer to home, the NC Senate District 43 race between Kathy Harrington (REP) and William Young (DEM) saw incumbent Harrington come out ahead 68,545, (65.55%) to 36,031 (34.45%). The District 44 contest saw Ted Alexander (REP) win over David Lee Lattimore (DEM) 3,837 (69.57% to 1,678 (30.43%).
The local NC House of Representatives District 108 race witnessed incumbent John Torbett (REP) come out ahead of David Caudill (DEM) 24,656 (63.38% to 14,302 (36.71%). District 109 had Dana Bumgardner (REP) win over Susan Maxton (DEM) 28.715 (62.16%) to 17,477 (37.84%). In District 110, Kathy Hastings (REP) ran unopposed and got 19,612 votes.
The NC District Court Judge District 27A Seat 03 contest witnessed Donald Rice (REP) top Richard Abernethy (DEM) 68,401 (62.40% to 41,209 (37.60).
The Gaston County Board of Education had several contests going. At Large member Jeff Ramsey won with 39,987 votes (43.74%). The Cherryville Township race was won by Beverly Lovelace with 43,231 votes (51.50%). Crowders Mtn. Township was won by Brent Moore with 55.412 votes (65.33%). Gastonia Township Dot Guthrie with 42,532 (45.62%).
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners South Point Township race was won by Ronnie Worley (REP) who ran unopposed and got 75,246 votes.
And now for the Presidential election. This year there was no election night winner. In fact, it was not until last Saturday (Nov. 7), that Joe Biden was said to be the victor. However, as this week’s edition of the BannerNews went to press on Nov. 10, questions of alleged improprieties regarding voters/vote counting were still being aired and Donald Trump had not officially conceded.
* Complete and more detailed election results from Gaston County can be seen at the Gaston County Board of Elections website. Updated statewide votes are on the NC Board of Elections website.
By Alan Hodge
alan@cfmedia.info
The 2020 General Election last week is one that will go down in history.
The local voting scene was pretty much wrapped up quickly. The national Presidential scenario not so much.
Early voting was the name of the game across the board. In Gaston County alone, 63.24 percent (95,449) of the 150,704 registered voters cast their ballots before the Nov. 3 election day came along.
Visits to local polling places confirmed that fact. This reporter visited polling locations in Mt. Holly, Belmont, Cramerton, and Catawba Heights and the long lines of voters that some folks had feared were not in evidence.
Neil Chastain had arrived early at the Belmont Central Elementary polling place and had this to say.
“I was here at 6:30 am and there were about fifty people in line but the line dwindled quickly,” he said.
At the Mt. Holly polling place, poll chief Tina Sagasi gave this report.
“After early voting was over, there were only about 1,600 voters in this precinct who had not voted,” she said.
Poll chief Jonathan Baines at Cramerton gave his observation.
“It has been steady, but slow,” he said.
Catawba Heights poll chief Jeremy McCarey called the turnout “steady”.
At press time, here are the numbers.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper (DEM) defeated challenger Dan Forest (REP) 2,803,782 (51.48%) to 2,563,258 (47.06%)
In the contest for U.S. Senator, incumbent Thom Tillis (REP) beat challenger Cal Cunningham (DEM) 2,640,381 (48.73%) to 2,543,693 (46.94%).
The U.S. House of Representative District 5 race witnessed Virginia Foxx (REP) beat David Brown (DEM) 255,767 (67.02%) to 118,444 (31.04%).
Closer to home, the NC Senate District 43 race between Kathy Harrington (REP) and William Young (DEM) saw incumbent Harrington come out ahead 68,545, (65.55%) to 36,031 (34.45%). The District 44 contest saw Ted Alexander (REP) win over David Lee Lattimore (DEM) 3,837 (69.57% to 1,678 (30.43%).
The local NC House of Representatives District 108 race witnessed incumbent John Torbett (REP) come out ahead of David Caudill (DEM) 24,656 (63.38% to 14,302 (36.71%). District 109 had Dana Bumgardner (REP) win over Susan Maxton (DEM) 28.715 (62.16%) to 17,477 (37.84%). In District 110, Kathy Hastings (REP) ran unopposed and got 19,612 votes.
The NC District Court Judge District 27A Seat 03 contest witnessed Donald Rice (REP) top Richard Abernethy (DEM) 68,401 (62.40% to 41,209 (37.60).
The Gaston County Board of Education had several contests going. At Large member Jeff Ramsey won with 39,987 votes (43.74%). The Cherryville Township race was won by Beverly Lovelace with 43,231 votes (51.50%). Crowders Mtn. Township was won by Brent Moore with 55.412 votes (65.33%). Gastonia Township Dot Guthrie with 42,532 (45.62%).
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners South Point Township race was won by Ronnie Worley (REP) who ran unopposed and got 75,246 votes.
And now for the Presidential election. This year there was no election night winner. In fact, it was not until last Saturday (Nov. 7), that Joe Biden was said to be the victor. However, as this week’s edition of the BannerNews went to press on Nov. 10, questions of alleged improprieties regarding voters/vote counting were still being aired and Donald Trump had not officially conceded.
* Complete and more detailed election results from Gaston County can be seen at the Gaston County Board of Elections website. Updated statewide votes are on the NC Board of Elections website.