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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

With a little help from Carter County voters, Donald J. Trump Jr. is returning to the White House, and Tennessee’s Republican congressional representatives were reelected during Tuesday’s general election.

With all 95 counties reporting their results, the former president and running mate JD Vance received 1,964,499 votes, while Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz garnered 1,055,039. In Carter County, Trump received 20,165 votes, to Harris’ 4,454. 

Among the five Independent candidates on the presidential ballot, only Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received more than 100 votes from county voters. Kennedy, who had thrown his support to Trump, still netted 123 votes.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn, who has represented Tennessee since 2019, was reelected, receiving 1,916,591 votes. Her closest competitor, Democrat Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, received 1,026,294 votes. In Carter County, Blackburn’s tally was 19,685, while Johnson received 4,081 votes. Carter Countians gave Independents a little attention, with Tharon Chandler receiving 213 votes; Pamela Jeanine “P.” Moses, 171; and Hastina Robinson, 64.

In the race for the 1st District U.S. House of Representatives seat, incumbent Republican Diana Harshbarger was reelected with 257,530 votes, to Democrat Kevin Jenkins’ 63,949. In Carter County, Harshbarger received 18,705 votes, to Jenkins’ 3,844. Among Independents, Richard G. Baker received 446 votes in the county, with Levi Brake pulling in 175.