Photo by Matt de Simone
By Matt de Simone
Botetourt County voters shared their want for change during the November 5 elections. Polling places throughout the county saw an uptick in participation during the 2024 presidential election cycle. Locally, 21,716 voters filed their ballots out of the county’s 27,222 registered voters, according to the Department of Elections. The 2020 presidential election saw 21,063 voters (over 600 less) turn out in the county.
It started at the top as Republican nominee Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States with Botetourt County providing 72% of the county’s vote over the 27% who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris. This will be Trump’s second term as President and the first time the office saw a candidate elected in two non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland was elected as the 24th President in 1892 (previously serving as the 22nd in the 1884 election).
Senator Tim Kaine (D) was re-elected to his U.S. Senate seat last week despite the majority of Botetourt voting for Republican nominee Hung Cao (69%). Kaine and the other current U.S. Senator Mark Warner have maintained Virginia’s Democratic representation in the U.S. Senate since 2013.
In other Virginia elections, Ben Cline (R–6th District) retained his seat in U.S. House of Representatives, earning 74% of the county’s vote over Democrat Ken Mitchell. This is Cline’s fourth 6th District victory following previous terms in Virginia’s House of Delegates.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Simmons
Botetourt County localities also saw new members to their elected bodies of local government. In Fincastle, Jim Reynolds, Clay Fitzgerald, and Barry Rakes will join Town Council. They will soon replace outgoing members John Thomas and Bill Gaul.
In a special election for Troutville Town Council, Jonathan Simmons won an uncontested election, joining re-elected members Henry John Cook Jr., Granville Grant, and Spurgeon Vaughan. Mayor Mike Mansfield was re-elected as mayor, also in an uncontested race.
Buchanan voted Sue Way as its first female mayor, and also added Edith “Sissy” Austin to Town Council, with James Manspile winning re-election to council.
