Just 32 percent of registered voters in Baldwin County visited the polls Tuesday. While primary votes historically see low turnout numbers, the low numbers were a surprise in Alabama, where several races were highly contested in both parties.
The Board of Registrars said Baldwin County has 166,298 voters on the list, active and inactive. Of those 53,689 ballots were cast: 12,602 Democratic, 40,962 Republican and 125 non-partisan.
In the race of the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had a strong lead in Baldwin County and eventually won the state, with 58.24 percent of the vote in Baldwin. Michael Bloomberg received 12.06 percent, Bernie Sanders received 19.68 percent and Elizabeth Warren received 7.09 percent.
The Republican presidential nominee race went to Donald Trump with 38,922 votes cast for the sitting president, 668 cast for challenger Bill Weld and 1,049 votes marked as uncommitted.
Democrats Kiani Gardner and James Averhart will advance to a runoff for Alabama U.S. Representative 1st Congressional District. In Baldwin, Gardner snagged 59.64 percent of the vote and Averhart won 19.75 percent.
Republicans Jerry Carl and Bill Hightower will also compete for the U.S. Representative 1st Congressional District in the runoff race. In Baldwin, Carl earned 33.56 percent of the vote while Hightower had 41.59 percent.
In perhaps the Alabama race watched closest across the nation, the contest for U.S. Senator will also head to a runoff between former Alabama senator and U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville. Sessions had 25.80 percent of the vote in Baldwin County, Tuberville earned 12.38 percent and current Alabama District 1 Congressman Bradley Byrne earned 56.31 percent.
Candidates for the Court of Criminal Appeals will also head to the runoff race between Beth Kellum, 47.03 percent, and Will Smith, 34.83 percent.
The runoff race will take place on Tuesday, March 31.
Results in other races:
Associate Justice for the Supreme Court, Place No. 1
Greg Shaw, 18,484
Cam Ward 12,494
Court of Civil Appeals Judge, Place No. 2
Philip Bahakel 10,826
Matt Fridy 17,999
Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place No. 1
Melvin Hasting 9,439
Mary Windom 22,169
President, Public Service Commission
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, 23,018
Robin Litaker 11,343
Member, Baldwin County Board of Education
Norma Hoots Lynch 2,436
Robert Stuart II 3,553
