Top County Races Head to Runoffs

While several 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.

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 , who got nearly 23 percent of the primary vote.

In the tax commissioner's race, and 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 will keep his title another four years, as challenger garnered only 36.7 percent to the incumbent's 63.3 percent.

In perhaps the closest race of election night, challenger unseated incumbent Clerk of Court with 50.8 percent of the votes.

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