Like the rest of the country, Johnson County experienced the full swing of election season as it came to a head on Nov. 5. Voters, both nationally and locally, made their voices heard on a number of races, the biggest being the presidential contest. For Johnson County and Missouri voters, candidates included Denny Hoskins’ bid for Secretary of State and Brandon Phelps’ run for State Representative of District 54. Several amendments to the Missouri Constitution were on the ballot, including Amendments 2 and 3. Amendment 2 is a proposal to legalize sports betting in Missouri, while Amendment 3 is a move toward overturning Missouri’s current ban on abortion. 

  Denny Hoskins, a former state senator, held a watch party event with supporters at Players, a restaurant in Warrensburg. Throughout the night, they awaited both local results and the results of the presidential race. Hoskins mingled with supporters and outlined the work that went into the campaign. When results returned, showing his victory against Democrat Barbara Phifer, Hoskins finished with 57.7 percent of the vote compared to Phifer’s 39.7 percent. Hoskins expressed excitement in response to his win.

  “It’s very humbling to see all the support that’s come across this great state,” said Hoskins. “The future is really bright here in Missouri.”

  Likewise, Phelps and his supporters gathered for a similar watch at Old Barney’s, a restaurant in downtown Warrensburg. When final results poured in, showing a victory of 70.3 percent against democrat Eric Stevens’ 29.7 percent, Phelps was also enthusiastic about the future. He highlighted, in particular, a sense of humility in regard to winning. 

  “You know, it affirms that the message that I had, that I expressed to the voters, was a message that they liked and received. So, that’s humbling,” said Phelps. 

  After the Associated Press called the presidential race on Nov. 6, Phelps said,“I think the message is that Americans from one coast to the next, and especially in the Midwest, clearly stated that they weren’t happy with the way things were.”

  Grant Meyer, a University of Central Missouri graduate student, attended the Hoskins’ watch party and offered his thoughts.

“It’s important to exercise that right [voting], because we had people fight and die for that,” said Meyer.

  Both Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 also passed, legalizing sports betting in Missouri and overturning Missouri’s current ban on abortion. 

  “It is hard to second guess the will of the people. When the majority have a chance to speak, you need to listen,” said Phelps.