Nearly 40% of registered Howard County voters turned out to the polls for primary elections held on Tuesday, August 4. Two county-wide races on the Republican ticket were a particular draw. Incumbent Presiding Commissioner Jerimiah Johnmeyer was elected to a third term, defeating GOP challenger Jared Wies 1,067 (67.45%) to 515 (32.55%). Stacie McCutcheon won the GOP nomination for Howard County Treasurer, defeating Michelle Johnmeyer 1,118 (71.71%) to 441 (28.29%). She will face Independent candidate Sarah Thompson in the General Election on Nov. 3.

Howard County also voted with the rest of the state in favor of Amendments 1 and 2 and against Amendments 4 and 5.

A total of 39.14% of the county’s 6,681 registered voters cast ballots, a high mark among primaries. Dating back more than a decade, 2018 saw the highest percentage of voters with 44.10%. The previous primary election, held in 2024, only drew 27.36%. (Please turn to Page 4 to see full countywide results from Tuesday’s elections.)

Johnmeyer faces no opposition in November’s general election. He said it felt good to win his second contested election in three times running for Presiding Commissioner.

“I was a little nervous today because you never know what voters are going to do,” Johnmeyer said moments after results were announced. “I think my hard work has been noticed. I’m going to keep going with what I’ve been doing the last eight years, taking one task at a time and using common sense.”

Wies thanked those who voted for him but said he didn’t expect to run again for Presiding Commissioner.

Shortly after results were tallied, McCutcheon thanked voters who chose her as the Republican candidate for Howard County Treasurer. “I love that I get to call Howard County home, and I look forward to continuing to get out in the community to meet voters and prove to them that I am qualified, experienced, and trustworthy.”

As the Republican nominee for treasurer, McCutcheon will face Sarah Thompson, who, as an independent candidate, did not appear on the primary ballot.

In wider elections, Howard County Republicans gave Fayette resident Brad Patty 33.61% approval in a six-way race for District 5 US representative. District-wide, he finished third overall with just over 10% of the vote, despite being the only candidate who actually lives in the district. Rick Bratton won the nomination with nearly 45% of the vote and will take on Democratic incumbent Emmanuel Cleaver, II of Kansas City. Bratton finished second among Howard County voters with 28.57% approval.

“I am honored to have taken first place right here in Howard County,” Patty said on election night. He told the advertiser that given the momentum of his candidacy, he is “seriously considering” a run for District 48 state representative in 2028. That seat is currently held by Tim Taylor, who won the GOP nomination unopposed for a new term and will face a challenge from Fayette Democrat Hope Tinker, also unopposed, in November.

“In the coming days, I look forward to having many thoughtful conversations across our district. I welcome anyone to reach out and share their ideas as I consider this opportunity to serve our community,” Patty said.

Among statewide amendments on Tuesday’s ballot, Howard County voters voted in step with the rest of the state. Voters here overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, giving nearly 80% approval to renew the existing 0.1% sales and use tax for 10 years to fund state parks, historic sites, and soil and water conservation. The measure easily passed statewide with 82.228% voter approval.

Howard Countians also voted in favor of Amendment 2, which requires all charter counties, specifically Jackson County (Kansas City), to elect their county assessor rather than appointing one and mandates state training compliance for these officials. Locally, the amendment passed 1,847 (73.79%) to 656 (26.21%). Statewide approval was slightly higher at 76.924%.

Along with the rest of the state, Howard County rejected Amendments 4 and 5 in landslides. A more in-depth look into the failures of both amendments by Missouri Independent Editor Rudi Keller appears on Page 8.

Amendment 4 would have established a new requirement that citizen-led constitutional amendments must receive a majority vote in each of Missouri's eight congressional districts to pass, rather than a simple statewide majority. The amendment was voted down 2,031 (84.22%) to 558 (21.55%). Statewide, 80.323% of voters turned down the measure.

Amendment 5 aimed to phase out the state individual income tax, instead authorizing the expansion of sales and use taxes, requiring reductions in local property taxes to offset increased local sales tax revenue while preserving school funding. However, voters saw this as a power grab for current and future politicians rather than just the elimination of widely despised income taxes. Howard County voters rejected the measure 2,187 (84.22%) to 408 (15.78%), mirroring statewide repudiation of 83.316% against the proposal.