Republican Josh Devine won a tight race for circuit judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit of Missouri, Division 4.
Devine will serve a six-year term, presiding over Boone and Callaway County circuit level criminal and civil cases, in addition to any other case types assigned by the presiding judge.
Devine was up against Democrat Andy Hirth.
In Callaway County, Devine garnered 15,121 votes, 73.8 percent of the county total, during Tuesday's election, according to the unofficial results posted by the Callaway County Clerk's Office. The 13th Circuit also serves Boone County, where 43,591 voters supported him.
Hirth earned 5,262 votes in Callaway County and 43,149 in Boone County.
With both counties totaled, Devine had 54.808 percent. Official results will follow after the vote is certified.
Devine said he has spend his career serving the people of the 13th Judicial Circuit and is excited to continue to do so.
"I'm very excited," Devine said. "It's been an incredibly strange couple of weeks for me. My mom passed away 10 days ago surprisingly and suddenly and she was my greatest supporter. It's hard not to be able to celebrate this with her."
Voter turnout was 72.97 percent for the race in Callaway County - also on the ballot was the U.S. presidential election and the Missouri governor's race, as well as a number of state and local elections.
Devine has served in the position since Judge Jodie Asel retired in June. He was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson.
Devine earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Truman State University and a law degree from the University of Missouri. He was principal attorney at Rogers, Ehrhardt, Weber & Howard in Columbia from 2015-18, after working for other law firms.
In 2018, Devine was appointed to serve as the associate circuit judge for Division 11 in Boone County but lost that seat to a challenger.
Last week, Devine said many people don't feel heard in the criminal justice system.
"The biggest thing I've done as a judge and want to continue doing as a judge is to treat people as people," Devine said.
See also:
November 3, 2020, General Election Results Here are results from statewide and Mid-Missouri elections, as well as election wrap-up stories.