By Trey Swaggart
NCH intern
Tuesday, August 6, marks the end of round one in a long primary season here in Cass County. Voters have voted, the count is mostly done, and while these results are short on surprises, they are long on impact.
Prior to the Aug. 6. primary, I followed 14 candidates from five races in and around Cass County. Elections for state representative and senate were joined by county elections for assessor, sheriff, and district commissioner. Many of these races featured intra-party battles, most of which took place inside the Republican Party. The results from these elections are as of 11:15 p.m. on election night.
In the state representative race for House District 56, incumbent Michael Davis squared off in the Republican primary against current Cass County North Commissioner Ryan Johnson and former football coach Todd Berck.
Heading into the final weeks of the campaign, both Davis and Berck made public appearances, while Johnson declined to make public appearances and statements. In the end, two-term incumbent Davis was able to dispatch his two other challengers carrying 41 percent of the vote, with Berck and Johnson receiving 30 and 27 percent, respectively. Davis heads into the fall against Democrat Pam Hatcher Jenkins, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
The race for the Missouri Senate in District 31 was the other race for a spot in Jefferson City. Incumbent Rick Brattin was challenged by two sitting state representatives, Mike Haffner of the 55th District and Dan Houx of the 54th District. In the end, Brattin fended off the challengers, taking just over 46 percent, with Haffner and Houx getting 27 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Brattin heads into the fall campaign against Johnson County Democrat Raymond James, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Local county races on the ballot included commissioner, assessor, and sheriff. Each contest pitted two Republicans against each other, with no Democrats running. The winner of these Republican primaries will win the November election.
In the assessor’s race, Roger Raffety fended off a challenge from former Harrisonville alderman Jessica Levsen. Raffety, who won the primary with 62 percent, has been a mainstay in the office since 2005. This is Raffety’s first run for elected office, as he was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson back in 2019.
The Cass County Commission has two vacancies, with the North race featuring current Cass County Clerk Jeff Fletcher and former Pleasant Hill School District substitute teacher, Debbie Descombes Griggs. Fletcher won the election, taking nearly 80 percent of the vote to Grigg’s 21 percent.
The final race was Cass County Sheriff. Incumbent Jeff Weber soundly defeated retired law enforcement officer Terry Dotson by a margin of 62 percent to 37 percent. This is the third time that Weber has defeated Dotson; however, this is his best performance in these races.
For more election results from in and around Cass County, please visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.mo.gov and click on the election’s tab, or visit the Cass County Clerk’s page at casscounty.com.