10 percent of Whitley County voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s Primary Election

10 percent of Whitley County voters went to the polls to cast their ballots in Tuesday’s May Primary election in the Republican and Democrat presidential primaries.

As former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden had long since secured enough delegates for their respective party’s nomination, turnout was expectedly light.

Trump received 73 out 84 votes cast in Whitley County’s Republican presidential primary with “uncommitted” receiving five votes, Nikki Haley getting four votes, and Chris Christie and Ron DeSantis each receiving a single vote.

Biden received 13 out of the 17 votes cast in Whitley County’s Democratic presidential primary with “uncommitted” and Marianne Williamson each receiving two votes each.

Republican voters also had the chance to cast their ballots in the Republican Primary for the Fifth Congressional District where incumbent Hal Rogers easily won his parties nomination picking up his 23 consecutive nomination.

In Whitley County, Rogers received 71 out of 83 votes cast. Brandon Monhollen received six votes, Dana Edwards got four votes, and David E. Kraftchak Jr. received two votes.

Rogers is unopposed in the general election and remains the longest-serving Kentuckian ever elected to a federal office. He issued the following victory statement:

“I’m honored to have the overwhelming confidence and support of folks across Southern and Eastern Kentucky. Our nation needs strong, trusted leaders to push back against the Biden Administration and the extreme ideas that have deeply divided our country.

“With multiple crises at our door-step, I promise to do everything I can in Washington to strengthen and protect our homeland. We must secure our southern border and stop the flow of illegal drugs and dangerous criminals into our communities. We must address Bidenomics – rural American families simply can’t take it anymore. And we must reassert our global stance that has been severely weakened by the Biden Administration.

“Despite the chaos across the country, we are overcoming longtime challenges in our region, including driving down overdose death rates, rebuilding stronger communities after the deadly Eastern Kentucky flood, creating new opportunities in our coal communities, and helping our next generation realize the American Dream and accomplish greater things than we ever imagined – like working on NASA missions.

“The mountain grit and integrity of our region inspires me everyday, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to continue serving the region that I call home.”

Rogers became Dean of the U.S. House in 2022 and has served on the House Appropriations Committee for more than 40 yearsy.