Buncombe County district attorney Todd Williams defeated Ben Scales again, while Quentin Miller took home a very large and historic victory in the Democratic primary for Buncombe County sheriff.
The Williams-Scales race in the Democratic primary was essentially the general election, as no other candidates had filed. Williams defeated Scales 53 to 47%, after topping him four years ago in the general election when Scales ran as an independent. This time the race was much closer, as Scales spent much of his campaign criticizing how Williams handled the investigation into former Asheville police officer Chris Hickman, who is now charged for the beating of an unarmed black man last August. Williams noted he could not bring charges against Hickman until police finished their criminal investigation, and that those charges were filed quickly once that occurred.
Miller, a sergeant in the Asheville police force, easily outdistanced four opponents for the Democratic nomination for sheriff. Miller ended up garnering 54% of the vote. As the Democratic nominee, he'll be the heavy favorite in the fall general election to replace retiring sheriff Van Duncan. If Miller defeats Republican Shad Higgins and Libertarian Tracey Debruhl, he'll become the first African-American to hold the office of Buncombe County sheriff.
Henderson County will be getting a new sheriff as well. Lowell Griffin defeated incumbent Charles McDonald in the Republican primary by a 59-41% margin. Griffin does not have a challenger in the fall.
In other contested primaries in Buncombe County, Amanda Edwards took home the Democratic nomination for a District 2 seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. She'll face Republican Glenda Weinert in the fall. Ellen Frost currently holds the seat, but she declined to seek re-election. Democrat Donna Ensley won the party's nomination for the District 3 seat on the county board. She'll face incumbent Republican Robert Pressley in the fall. In the GOP primary in North Carolina House of Representatives District 115, Amy Evans scored a narrow victory over Nathan West, despite the fact West ceased his campaign several weeks ago. Evans will face incumbent Democrat John Ager in the fall.
Both of Western North Carolina's Republican Congressman easily won their GOP primary races. Mark Meadows will face Phillip Price in the fall in the 11th district. The McDowell County businessman garnered almost 41% of the vote to defeat Steve Woodsmall and Scott Donaldson in the Democratic primary. In the 10th Congressional district, incumbent Republican Patrick McHenry will face Democrat David Wilson Brown, who ran unopposed in the primary. You can view all results statewide below.