Since Bulloch County had far more residents vote Republican than Democrat in the May primaries and Republicans in all county offices except two, it's no surprise the county went for Donald Trump for president and Republicans in all but one other race in the general election.

In Bulloch's final but unofficial tally from Tuesday night, the Republican former president received 20,960 votes, or 64.3 % of the local total, to 11,494 votes, or 35.3%, for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, with minor-party candidates dividing the difference. 

The one Democratic Party victor in Bulloch County was county Commissioner Ray Mosley, who achieved a 58.3% to 41.7% win over Republican challenger R. Ryan Brannen for a new four-year term in Board of Commissioners Seat 1-A. The final, still unofficial Election Night count was 3,835 votes for Mosley to 2,740 for Brannen. The seat is one of two, elected on alternating four-year cycles, from District 1, the traditionally minority-majority third of the county.

"It's a great opportunity for me to continue to serve," said Mosley, interviewed outside the county election office. "I feel like the Board of Commissioners that I've worked with, we've set in place some good things, and I would like to see that we can complete them, so hopefully we can work together."

He acknowledged that the board will have changed dramatically as of January, with Chairman-elect David Bennett to replace Chairman Roy Thompson, Commissioner Ray Davis having already replaced now-former Commissioner Curt Deal, and after Tuesday night's results, Commissioner-elect Nick Newkirk set to replace Commissioner Jappy Stringer.

But in fact, it is Republicans who have unseated other Republicans in all these instances. Mosley and the other longtime Democrat on the board, Seat 1-B Commissioner Anthony Simmons, who was not up for election this year, will remain.

"I think the goal is to make this county as great as we can, so I'll be working to do my part," Mosley continued. "There's a lot of work for us to do; there's a lot for us to overcome as far as issues, but we can get there."

Newkirk elected

Originally one of three Republicans in the race for Seat 2-C, Newkirk in fact had defeated Stringer in a Republican primary runoff back in June. But as the GOP nominee, Newkirk then faced a Democratic candidate, Len Fatica, in the general election in Commissioner District 2, the traditionally white-majority district that contains roughly two-thirds of Bulloch's population and elects a total of four commissioners, two every two years to staggered terms.

Newkirk kept the seat Republican with a 73% to 27% win over Fatica. The final, unofficial count Tuesday night was 18,074 votes for Newkirk to 6,659 votes for Fatica. 

"The people of Bulloch County have spoken. They wanted a change, and that's what they've got with three new commissioners coming on. …," Newkirk said Tuesday night. "I'm ready to hit the ground running. I just thank the citizens of Bulloch County for this opportunity, and I'm not going to disappoint them."

Fatica, who stepped aside temporarily as chairman of the Bulloch County Democratic Committee while campaigning, said he knew he faced an uphill battle in the heavily Republican district.

"I congratulate Nick," Fatica said. "I had a good race and I wish him the best as a new county commissioner, and I think he'll do the right thing for the county, you know, listen to all of the people of the county. You're not just a commissioner for just a certain select group of people or even our district. You're a county commissioner for the entire county." 

Francis to be coroner

In the one countywide local race that lasted until the general election, Republican candidate Chuck Francis was elected county coroner, with 19,659 votes, or 62.3%, to 11,895 votes, or 37.7%, for Democrat Craig R. Tremble.

Both Francis and Tremble have long served as deputy coroners, with Tremble being the chief deputy. They had agreed to continue working together, with Tremble now to continue as a deputy coroner, and appointed incumbent Coroner Richard Pylant also expected to revert to being a deputy coroner. Pylant had been appointed in April 2023 to fill the remainder of the term of Jake Futch, who retired.

"I'm kind of at a loss for words," Francis said upon being called about his win. "I'm incredibly humbled and incredibly proud of our county for supporting me, and I'm ready for the challenge, to run the Coroner's Office and take care of our citizens of Bulloch County the way that they deserve to be treated."

Other contests

Bulloch County residents in State House District 158 participated in re-electing state Rep. Butch Parrish, longtime Republican incumbent, over Democratic challenger Madeline Ryan Smith. The in-county vote totals were 5,211, or 64.1%, for Parrish to 2,918, or 35.9%, for Smith.

U.S. Rep. Rick W. Allen also won re-election to his seat representing Georgia's 12th Congressional District. In Bulloch, he received 21,357 votes, or 66.85%, to Democratic challenger Elizabeth "Liz" Johnson's 10,589 votes, or 33.15%.

Bulloch Couty voters said "yes" with a 61.7% majority to a state constitutional amendment for a special homestead exemption countering annual inflation in assessed values of owner-occupied homes. But 51.9% of voters hear said "no" on an amendment for establishing special tax courts.

A 60.7% Bulloch majority said "yes" on a referendum  question increasing the amount of personal property, such as household contents, exempt from property tax.