While several local races were decided by voters in the Republican primary, two are set for Aug. 21 runoff elections—commissioner and tax commissioner.

Bartow voters narrowed the field of commissioner hopefuls, giving three of the candidates—Michael Abernathy, Tracy Lewis and Tony Tidwell—less than 15 percent of the votes each.

Steve Taylor got more than 38 percent of the votes, less than the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff. He is set to square off with Mike Bearden, who got nearly 23 percent of the primary vote.

In the tax commissioner's race, Steve Stewart and Vicki Beck are set for a runoff. Stewart received about 47 percent of the primary vote to Beck's 21 percent.

Nearly 28 percent of Bartow's 58,797 registered voters cast ballots in the primary either on election day or via advanced or absentee voting. A total of 16,371 ballots were cast, according to the Secretary of State. 

Sheriff Clark Millsap will keep his title another four years, as challenger Dan Knowles garnered only 36.7 percent to the incumbent's 63.3 percent.

In perhaps the closest race of election night, challenger Melba Scoggins unseated incumbent Clerk of Superior Court Gary Bell with 50.8 percent of the votes.

Editor's Note—The latest vote count does not include provisional ballots and has not been certified.