Mitchel Newman jumped out to an early lead and held off incumbent Ronnie McBride in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the sheriff's position in Jasper County.

Newman garnered 3,354 votes or 43.8 percent of the vote as compared to McBride, who earned 2.623 votes or 34.3 percent of the vote. Paul Brister earned 1,665 votes or 21.7 percent of the vote to finish in third place and out of the runoff consideration.

Newman and McBride will face off for the Jasper County Sheriff's Democratic nominee in 30 days and will face Republican Jim Byerly in November.

In other contested races, Jasper County Precinct 2 Commissioner Willie Stark defeated challenger Weldon Smith 1,030 to 899 to earn the Democratic nominee position in the November general election. Stark will face an Independent candidate in the November election.

For complete box-by-box election results, see the March 12 edition of The Jasper Newsboy