Graham wins Young County Judge race

Voting concluded Tuesday in the midterm election with 5,926, or 48% of the 12,135 registered voters in Young County, turning out to vote according to the unofficial results from the Young County Elections Administrator. Locally, one contested election was held between Republican candidate Win Graham and write-in candidate Joe Finfrock, with Graham winning the county judge seat.

Graham won the place on the November ballot and was running unopposed until Finfrock filed as a write-in candidate in July.

Finfrock is the first write-in candidate for the position of Young County Judge since 2006 when Mike “Bear” Young filed to run against then Young County Judge, Stanley Peavy III. Another write-in candidate was also on the ballot that year. David Pennartz filed as a write-in for Young County Commissioner, Pct. 4, against incumbent Jimmy Wiley. Both incumbents were able to secure the majority of the vote that year.

Graham made a post on his campaign Facebook page Wednesday, Nov. 9, regarding the election results.

“Thank you so much for your vote of confidence. I am excited to get to work and make those of you who supported me proud and to earn the trust of those who did not,” Graham wrote. “Congratulations to Joe and his team. Team Finfrock ran an incredible campaign and his team was amazing. I hope you are proud of your efforts. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I begin this journey. There is a lot of work to do and it begins today.”

Finfrock sent a response Friday, Nov. 11, to The Graham Leader regarding the election results.

“We were blessed to receive over 2500 ‘write-in’ votes for YCJ. I hope this encourages conservative Christians to get involved in local political races,” Finfrock wrote. “Congratulations to Win Graham. He will have my prayers daily. The challenge is great and God’s wisdom is essential. We ran an honorable and honest campaign and have no regrets. We will move forward and seek to make a difference in Young County.”

The county saw strong early voting turnout in the election, with 3,959, or 32% of the 12,134 registered voters turning out to the polls. In the 2018 midterm election, 4,066 voters voted early, or 34% of the 11,949 registered voters at the time. Young County had 502 voters at the polls on the first day of early voting on Monday, Oct. 24, or a 4% turnout.

Election day voting was held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at five locations within Young County. Those locations were Newcastle First Baptist Church, 501 Graham St. in Newcastle, Graham First United Methodist Church, 701 Third St. in Graham, Loving Volunteer Fire Department, 8891 Hwy. 114 in Loving, North Central Texas College, 928 Cherry St. in Graham, and Olney Community Library and Arts Center, 807 W. Hamilton St. in Olney.

The last day to register to vote in the election was Tuesday, Oct. 11. The first day to apply for a ballot by mail using an application for a ballot by mail or Federal Post Card Application was Saturday, Jan. 1. Applications for ballot by mail must have been received by Friday, Oct. 28. The last day the election office could receive ballots by mail was 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, if the carrier envelope is not postmarked, or 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, if postmarked by 7 p.m. at the location of the election on election day.

The federal race on the ballot was for the U.S. Rep. District 25 position. State races were for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, Commissioner of Agriculture, Railroad Commissioner, Justice of the Supreme Court (places 3, 5 and 9), Court of Criminal Appeals Judge (places 5 and 6) and Justice of the 2nd Court of Appeals District (place 3). The single local race was for Young County Judge.

Local candidates who were on the primary election ballot were Kyle Milam, seeking Republican party chair; Win Graham, seeking Young County Judge; Jaime Land, seeking reelection to Young County District Clerk; Kay Hardin, seeking reelection to Young County Clerk; Kathy Mishler, seeking the position of Young County Treasurer; Joey Stewart and Lonnie Wales, seeking the position of Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3; Jimmy Wiley, seeking reelection to Young County Commissioner, Precinct 4, and opponent Rob Ward seeking the same seat; Jason Hearne, seeking reelection to Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1; and Matt Pruitt, seeking reelection to Young County Commissioner Precinct 2, and opponent Scott Shook seeking the same seat.

In close local primary races, Shook, Wiley and Stewart won the seats for Young County Commissioner Pct. 2, Young County Commissioner Pct. 4 and Justice of the Peace Pct. 3, respectively. Candidates running unopposed in the election were Land, Hardin, Mishler, Shook, Wiley, Hearne and Stewart.

Editor’s Note: Official results will be available at a later date, pending certification and canvassing by Young County. The full list of results is available on the attached pdf document.