That Joe Biden won the votes of 47.3 percent of Tipton County’s Democrats is not surprising.
And it’s not surprising, either, that President Donald Trump had 98 percent of Republican votes in a primary with Joe Walsh and Bill Weld, two candidates few realized were on the ballot prior to election day.
The low voter turnout may have been a little surprising, though.
“I thought it would be bigger,” said Tipton County Administrator of Elections Cindy Pinner. “Hopefully August will be busier.”
How low is low?
Only 17 percent of Tipton County’s active voters – this means 6,170 of 36,288 – participated in the Super Tuesday primary.
Compared to previous primaries, 23.5 percent (10,485 people) turned out in 2016 for the contested races that involved Trump and Hillary Clinton. Four years prior to that, when President Barack was seeking his second term and Mitt Romney won the Republican nomination, Tipton County voted 5,015 people.
“So we had a bigger turnout than 2012, but not 2016,” Pinner said.
Who came in after Biden?
Former vice president Joe Biden won the county by a landslide with 1,144 votes and Senator Bernie Sanders came in second with 517 (21.3 percent). Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who suspended his campaign Wednesday morning, had 460 votes (19 percent) and Senator Elizabeth Warren had 174 (7.2 percent).
Sanders was the only candidate who was also on the ballot during the 2016 primary. Four years ago he received 574 votes in Tipton County.
Why is the primary important?
The primary determines the number of delegates pledged to each presidential candidate and which candidates will receive the party’s nomination for November’s ballot.
All but six of the 34 candidates for delegate on Tuesday’s ballot were committed to Trump. Charlotte Kelley, of Burlison, was elected to serve as a delegate for the 8th Congressional District. Tennessee has a total of 73 delegates.
A Democratic hopeful needs 1,991 delegates for the party’s nomination. As of Wednesday, Biden had 507 and Sanders had 441.
There was also a county primary, but no one running for county office declared a party affiliation. There have been county primaries since 2016.
Breaking down the numbers
How did the results look by precinct?
Northwest Covington
Turnout: 14.8 percent; 306 voters on election day and 226 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 209 votes
Democrats: Biden had 168 votes, Bloomberg 74, Sanders 48 and Warren 13
Total votes: 217 votes for the Republican candidates, 314 votes for Democratic candidates
Southeast Covington
Turnout: 19.3 percent; 409 voters on election day and 340 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 406 votes
Democrats: Biden had 167 votes, Bloomberg 60, Sanders 65 and Warren 18
Total votes: 420 votes for the Republican candidates, 327 votes for Democratic candidates
Tipton West
Turnout: 16.9 percent; 370 voters on election day and 249 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 505 votes
Democrats: Biden had 32 votes, Bloomberg 29, Sanders 28 and Warren 8
Total votes: 512 votes for the Republican candidates, 107 votes for Democratic candidates
Atoka
Turnout: 18.3 percent; 656 voters on election day and 401 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 637 votes
Democrats: Biden had 195 votes, Bloomberg 58, Sanders 79 and Warren 45
Total votes: 646 votes for the Republican candidates, 409 votes for Democratic candidates
Munford
Turnout: 18.1 percent; 483 voters on election day and 274 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 506 votes
Democrats: Biden had 86 votes, Bloomberg 45, Sanders 75 and Warren 21
Total votes: 519 votes for the Republican candidates, 238 votes for Democratic candidates
Southwest Tipton
Turnout: 17.3 percent; 439 voters on election day and 193 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 417 votes
Democrats: Biden had 94 votes, Bloomberg 47, Sanders 43 and Warren 17
Total votes: 421 votes for the Republican candidates, 211 votes for Democratic candidates
Austin Peay
Turnout: 16.3 percent; 357 voters on election day and 263 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 330 votes
Democrats: Biden had 150 votes, Bloomberg 65, Sanders 47 and Warren 9
Total votes: 335 votes for the Republican candidates, 283 votes for Democratic candidates
West Wilkinsville
Turnout: 15.9 percent; 430 voters on election day and 191 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 286 votes
Democrats: Biden had 172 votes, Bloomberg 49, Sanders 70 and Warren 28
Total votes: 291 votes for the Republican candidates, 321 votes for Democratic candidates
Brighton
Turnout: 15.1 percent; 377 voters on election day and 193 voting early and absentee
Republicans: Trump received 505 votes
Democrats: Biden had 80 votes, Bloomberg 33, Sanders 62 and Warren 15
Total votes: 384 votes for the Republican candidates, 199 votes for Democratic candidates
What’s next?
From here, other primaries will be held and the Democrats will nominate a candidate.
Locally, the qualifying deadline is April 2 for all candidates in the August primary election, independent candidates for federal and state offices and independent candidates for county offices for which a county primary was not held.
The county will elect an assessor of property and two constables for districts 5 and 7.
Odd-numbered school board districts are also on the ballot for the Aug. 6 election, and it will be the primary for the District 81 state representative, District 32 state senate and District 8 U.S. representative races.
Municipal elections, and the presidential election, will take place on Nov. 3. The qualifying deadline for municipal races is Aug. 20.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
