With more than 22,700 ballots cast, Darrell Huffman has won the Republican primary runoff with almost 56 percent of the vote to cinch the Precinct 3 constable spot. Huffman, the handpicked successor of 24-year Constable Zane Hilger, started strong this evening with support from absentee and early voters, and he maintained that lead as precinct after precinct rolled in.

The unofficial results from more than 11 percent of the precinct's registered voters put him ahead of challenger Jason McCaffity, who slid past Huffman and former challenger Bob Welch with about 42.7 percent of vote in the Republican primary this spring.

In addition to earning the support of Hilger, Huffman's list of endorsements included a long list of Precinct 3 mayors and law enforcement groups. The longtime area resident and father of two currently serves as a sergeant and supervisor with the constable's office, and is well known for his farmland and pumpkin patch at the corner of Hall Johnson and Pool roads.

As no Democrats are running in this race, Huffman will be officially elected in November and replace the retiring Hilger in January.