Both the Democratic and Republican Primaries are in the books with some upsets and some incumbents being ousted from their seats. Early voting also saw some big numbers with a total of 1,909 ballots cast, including 1,815 in person and 94 by absentee. The Republican Primary saw nearly twice the number of Democrats in early voting with a total of 1,247 GOP votes compared to 662 in the Democratic Primary.

Eighteen candidates were in the race for the eight county-wide public offices up for election this year with each party (Democrat and Republican) having its own primary on the same day, to nominate candidates to run in the August DeKalb County General Election.

Three incumbent Republican County office holders are running unopposed in both the May 3 GOP primary and the August 4 General Election including Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin, County Clerk James L. “Jimmy” Poss, and Trustee Sean Driver. Driver received 2,045 complimentary votes, while Martin received 1,949. Poss received 2,134 votes.

Incumbent Republican Road Supervisor Danny Hale ran unopposed in the GOP Primary, but he will face Democrat Wayne Shehane in the August General Election. Hale received 1,772 complimentary votes in the primary, while Shehane received 822.

The race to succeed retiring Incumbent Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, has two candidates, Democrat Shelby Reeder and Republican Daniel Seber. Reeder received 799 votes in the primary while Seber received 1,912. Both will run against each other in the August 4 General Election.

Incumbent Republican Sheriff Patrick Ray had some opposition in the Republican Primary, with Keneth Lee Whitehead in the race. Ray carried every precinct including early voting, claiming 1,698 votes to Whitehead's 651. Ray be unopposed in the August 4 General Election.

In the County Mayor race, Matt Adcock came out on top in the Republican Primary with 944 votes. Anita Puckett received 735 votes, while Bradley Hendrix received 527 votes. Adcock led all districts but Alexandria and the Courthouse, which were carried by Puckett. At Snow Hill, Adcock and Hendrix tied at 26 votes.

In the Democratic Primary, Mike Foster overcame incumbent Tim Stribling with 581 votes to Stribling's 537. Foster led in Early voting, Alexandria, Blue Springs, the County Complex, the Courthouse, Liberty, and Temperance Hall, while Stribling carried Church of Christ Annex, Johnsons Chapel, Keltonburg, Rock Castle, Smithville Church of God, and Snow Hill. Foster will face Adcock in the August 4 General Election.

There were contested races in both party primaries for General Sessions Court Judge to succeed incumbent Bratten H. Cook, II who is retiring from the bench as of August 31. Tecia Puckett Pryor won in the Democratic Primary with 723 votes, over Margie Rigsby Miller who had 278. Pryor topped all precincts but Blue Springs and Keltonburg.

On the Republican side, Brandon Cox came away with the win over Mingy Kay Ball. Cox claimed all precincts with 1,521 votes to Ball's 784. Cox will face Pryor in August.

Twenty-nine candidates were vying for one of the 14 seats on the county commission in 2022 including nine Democrats, 17 Republicans, and three Independents. Two commissioners from each district will be elected in August. The terms are four years each.

In District 1, Incumbent Julie Young is running unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Bennett Armstrong and Tom Chandler are unopposed in the May 3 GOP Primary. Young received 73 votes on the Democratic side, while Armstrong received 123, and Chandler 159 on the Republican side.  Independent candidate Daniel Cripps will be on the ballot with Young, Armstrong, and Chandler in the August General Election. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 2, Incumbent Myron Rhody is unopposed in the May 3 Democratic Primary while Incumbent Sabrina Farler and Jim Pearson are unopposed on the May 3 GOP Primary. Farler received 249 votes, Pearson 183, and Rhody 103. All three will be on the ballot in the August General Election. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 3, Jack Barton came away with 111 votes in the Democratic Primary, with incumbent Susannah Cripps Daughtry coming away with 110. Incumbent Jenny Trapp received 97.

Tim Perricone was unopposed in the GOP Primary and received 217 votes.

Barton, Daughtry, and Perricone will be on the ballot in August, along with independent candidate Tony Luna. Two are to be elected.

In District 4, Incumbent Janice Fish Stewart was unopposed in the Democratic Primary and received 150 votes, while Greg Matthews topped the GOP primary with 192 votes, and Tony L. “Cully” Culwell with 166. Dan Delacruz had 86 votes.  Stewart, Matthews, and Culwell will be on the ballot in August along with independent candidate Wayne Cantrell. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 5, Larry Green topped the GOP vote with 173, while Glynn Merriman came away with 149. Incumbent Jerry Adcock received 118 votes, Steve Merriman Sr. had 79, and Joshua Holloway 68. Green and Glynn Merriman will be unopposed in the August 4 General Election.

In District 6, Incumbent Jeff Barnes and Danny McGinnis ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary. Barnes had 115 votes, while McGinnis came away with 77. Justin Douglas Adcock had 188 votes in the GOP primary, while Doug Stephens had 140. All four will be on the ballot in August. Two are to be elected in August.

In District 7, Incumbent Bruce Malone and Timothy Brian Reynolds were unopposed in the GOP primary. Reynolds received 136 votes, while Malone had 130. Democratic Incumbent Beth Pafford was unopposed and received 103 votes. All three will be on the ballot in August. Two are to be elected in August.

There are two contested Board of Education races in 2022 but not until the August 4 DeKalb County General Election.

Voters in district 1, 2, 3, 4, & 7 will elect a school board member. The terms are for 4 years.

There are no Democratic or Republican candidates for the Board of Education in District 1 but Incumbent Danny Parkerson is running unopposed as an Independent for re-election in the August 4 General Election.

Incumbent school board member Alan Hayes was unopposed in the GOP Primary in District 2 and received 333 votes. Incumbent school board member Jim Beshearse in District 3 was unopposed in the GOP Primary and received 292 votes. Both are unopposed in the August 4 General Election.

Three people are in the race in August to succeed Incumbent school board member Kate Miller in District 4 who is not seeking re-election. Scott Little, in the Democratic Primary, and Eric Ervin in the GOP primary, are unopposed but they will be challenged by Independent Tony Poss in the August 4 General Election. Little received 149 votes on May 3, while Ervin had 258 votes.

Incumbent school board member Shaun Tubbs in District 7 is running for re-election as an Independent in the August 4 General Election. He will face opposition from Republican Ryan Mollinet who ran unopposed in the GOP primary with 204 votes.