All election totals remain unofficial until canvassing concludes Sept. 20.

Republican Dr. Greg Murphy will be the North Carolina 3^rd Congressional District’s voice in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next year, after overcoming Democrat Allen Thomas, Libertarian Tim Harris and Constitution Party candidate Greg Holt during a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Congressman Walter Jones Jr. in February.

In the grand scheme of things, Murphy won 61.74% of the vote district-wide, trailed by Thomas at 37.47%. Holt and Harris, meanwhile, brought in .44% and .35%, respectively. By county, Murphy carried 16 of the district’s 17 counties, with Thomas’ sole win in Hyde County.

In Beaufort County, Murphy won by more than 2,000 votes, taking 5,798 votes (63.7%) compared to Thomas’ 3,222 votes (35.4%). Coming in third and fourth locally, Holt earned 55 votes (.6%) while Harris chalked up 22 (.2%). Murphy carried all but three precincts in the county, with Washington wards one, two and three being the only Democratic strongholds in the county.

Voter turnout in Beaufort County came in at 28.52% of the county’s 31,911 registered voters, slightly higher than the district-wide turnout percentage of approximately 23.5%. According to Beaufort County Board of Elections Director Kellie Hopkins, this trend is typical in most elections.

“Beaufort County tends to turn out higher percentages at every election compared to most counties,” Hopkins said. “This was around what I was expecting, but its still discouraging that a general election came in at 28%.”

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

While the dust is still settling from the Congressional race, the staff at the Beaufort County Board of Elections is already preparing for municipal elections in October and November. One Stop voting in that contest will begin Oct. 16 and continue through Nov. 1 at the Board of Elections office in Washington. Historically, no One Stop satellite sites have been opened during municipal elections.

Election Day is Nov. 5. In order to vote at the precinct on Election Day, one must register by Oct. 11. No ID is required to vote during this year’s municipal elections.

A total of 44 candidates have filed to run for municipal offices in Beaufort County.

• Washington Mayor — Mac Hodges, Marshall Thurmon
• Washington City Council — Richard Brooks, Laurence (Larry) Doby, Virginia Finnerty, Elizabeth (Betsy) Kane, Doug Mercer, William Pitt, Mike Renn, Bobby Roberson, Donald Sadler, Darwin E. Woolard, Roland Wyman
• Belhaven Mayor — Ricky Credle, Greg Satterthwaite
• Belhaven Board of Aldermen West — Brenda Cherry, Bradford Linton
• Belhaven Board of Aldermen East — James Lawler, Jimmie H. Southerland, Nathan Van Nortwick, Veronica Ward, Myers Williams
• Chocowinity Board of Commissioners — Casey Langley, Nathaniel Williams
• Aurora Board of Commissioners — W.C. Boyd, Coley W. Jordan, Tina Weatherly Taylor
• Bath Mayor — Jimmy Latham
• Bath Board of Commissioners — Keith Tankard, John Taylor
• Pantego Mayor — Stuart Ricks
• Pantego Board of Commissioners — Mart Benson, Reid Gelderman, Chad Keech, Robert Lilley, Matthew Van Nortwick, Chuck Williams
• Washington Park Mayor — Tom Richter
• Washington Park Board of Commissioners — Lee Bowen, Hatteras Brooks, Patrick Nash, Belinda Cowell, Wade Dale, Jeffery Peacock