Rutherford County Election Results: Randy Allen wins GOP primary over incumbent Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr, Craig Harris

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Originally published in AOL News

Rutherford County mayoral candidate Randy Allen won the May 5 Republican Primary with 36.16% of the vote.

Allen said his supporters spent 12 hours campaigning May 5 before cheering when they saw the final tally while gathered at his cousin’s home.

“We’re very overwhelmed by the outpowering of support,” Allen said.

Allen claimed victory 6,844 votes with 30 of 30 Voting Centers reporting, according to the Rutherford County Election Commission.

The GOP winner faces no qualified candidate in the Aug. 6 General Election.

Incumbent County Mayor Joe Carr was runner up in the Republican Primary with 6,459 votes or 34.13%.

Craig Harris, a Rutherford County Commissioner, finished third with 5,584 votes, or 29.50%.

Allen previously finished as runner up twice: in 2022 to Mayor Carr in General Election; and in 2018 in Republican Primary to then state Sen. Bill Ketron, who went onto to win the mayor’s race.

“This really could not have been done without the favor of God,” Allen said. “I just really believe that this win is to the glory of God. We’ve been praying for strength and favor, and we got it.”

Allen won after raising the least in campaign donations of $12,676. That’s less than 10% of the almost $128,000 that Harris raised. Mayor Carr collected about $40,031 from campaign donors.

“I commend my competitors in running a very civil and close race,” Allen said.

Mayor Carr said he called Allen and left a message to congratulate the winner.

“I and my office will assist him in a very smooth transition, so he can be the best mayor for Rutherford County,” Carr said.

“We’re excited to help him.”

Carr said he plans to brief Allen on the county budget and projects, “so he can hit the ground running on Sept. 1.”

The mayor had the early voting lead. Carr said attack mailers from political organizations in Washington, D.C., combined with Democrats crossing over in the primary to vote for Allen cost the incumbent mayor reelection.

The votes on May 5 are unofficial. The Rutherford County Election Commission will be certifying the results at during a 5 p.m. May 18 meeting.

This is a developing story.