Cole County voters decided three local judge races in Tuesday's primary election.
Division 2 Circuit Judge
In the race for Division 2 circuit judge, incumbent Republican Dan Green won a third term.
Green defeated fellow Republican Dave Bandre with 10,168 votes (72.82%) to Bandre's 3,781 (27.18%)
Green has served as circuit judge since his election in 2010. There are no Democratic candidates for the position, so Green is virtually assured of victory in the Nov. 3 general election.
"I was very pleased with how the voting went," Green said. "I think it was a nice referendum on my 10 years of serving as circuit judge."
"I want to thank those who came out and supported me," Bandre said. "I think having people run in contested races can make the courthouse stronger and hopefully work better."
Division 3 Circuit Judge
In the race for Division 3 circuit judge, Republican Cotton Walker defeated fellow Republican Mark Richardson with 10,408 votes (72.63%) to Richardson's 3,944 (27.37%).
There are no Democratic candidates for the position, so Walker is virtually assured of victory in the Nov. 3 general election.
"I appreciate the voters and their belief in what I'm doing at the courthouse and in the community," Walker said. "I will continue to work hard and do what's right."
Walker will replace current Presiding Judge Pat Joyce, who is retiring Dec. 31. Walker's current term as associate circuit judge, a position he was elected to in Nov. 2018, continues through 2022. According to officials at the Missouri Supreme Court, the governor will have the opportunity to appoint someone to fill Walker's vacancy as associate circuit judge.
"My opponent ran a clean race against me, which I appreciate," Richardson said Tuesday night.
Division 5 Associate Circuit Judge
In the race for Division 5 associate circuit judge, Brian Stumpe was the winner with 7,289 votes (51.54%).
Tim Anderson got 3,503 votes (24.85%), Matt Willis 1,880 votes (13.43%) and Todd Smith 1,438 votes (10.18%).
"I want to thank the people who voted for me and my faithful supporters," Stumpe said Tuesday night. "The work is not over, and we look forward to November."
Stumpe will face uncontested Democratic candidate Scott Evans in the Nov. 3 general election. Evans received 3,442 votes in Tuesday's primary.
Stumpe is currently Jefferson City's municipal judge.
"My congratulations to Judge Stumpe and my thanks to my supporters," Smith said.
"I want to thank everybody who came out and supported me," Willis said Tuesday night. "I want to congratulate Judge Stumpe on running an excellent campaign."
"Thank you to all who voted and for the faith and encouragement of so very many," Anderson said. It was my privilege to 'run the race' against three fine men."
The new Division 5 court will begin hearing cases in January.
This article was updated at 10:10 p.m. Aug. 4, 2020, with additional details and at 10:35 p.m. Aug. 4, 2020, to clarify the headline.