James “Little Brother” Topping edged out Joseph “Joey” Williams in the Democratic primary to choose that party’s nominee to represent Swan Quarter Township on the Hyde County Board of Commissioners.

Topping collected 297 votes to Williams’ 285 votes. Topping garnered 51.03 percent of the votes, with Williams getting 48.97 percent of the votes. Topping carried the Engelhard, Ocracoke and Lake Landing precincts, with Williams taking the other four precincts — Sladesville, Swan Quarter, Burgess Mill and Fairfield.

Topping is unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election.

Vote totals are unofficial until the Hyde County Board of Elections canvasses ballots May 18 and certifies the results.

Topping received 263 votes Tuesday, 33 votes during the early voting period and one vote by way of absentee ballot. Williams picked up 240 votes Tuesday, 44 votes during the early voting period and one vote from an absentee ballot.

Incumbent Beverly Boswell held off a challenge from Bobby Haning in the Republican primary to choose that party’s nominee to represent House District 6 in the N.C. General Assembly. Boswell, in her first term, faces Democrat Theresa Strickler Judge in the general election.

Boswell collected 146 votes in Hyde County to Haning’s 77 votes. In the district, Boswell received 3,613 votes to Haning’s 3,202 votes. Boswell carried Pamlico and Hyde counties. Haning carried Dare and Currituck counties.

Bob Steinburg defeated Clark Twiddy in the Republican primary to choose that party’s nominee to represent District 1 in the North Carolina Senate. Steinburg collected 6,760 votes in the district to Twiddy’s 4,894 votes. In Hyde County, Steinburg received 127 votes to Twiddy’s 93 votes. Steinburg moves on to the general election where he faces Democrat Cole Phelps, who faced no primary opposition.

Incumbent Walter B. Jones Jr. held off two challengers in the Republican primary to choose that party’s nominee to represent North Carolina’s 3^rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the district, Jones received 20,862 votes to Phil Law’s 14,266 votes and Scott Dacey’s 13,380 votes. In Hyde County, the vote total was much closer. Jones got 79 votes, Law received 74 votes and Dacey garnered 73 votes.

Jones faces no opposition in the general election.

In local races in the upcoming general election, Hyde County voters will elect a clerk of Superior Court, a register of deeds, a sheriff, two county commissioners, three school board members, sanitary district supervisors and two soil and water conservation supervisors.

The Superior Court (2^nd Judicial District) seat held by Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. is available this election cycle, as are two of the four District Court judgeships in the 2^nd Judicial District. Superior Court judges serve eight-year terms. District Court judges serve four-year terms. Hyde County is in the 2^nd Judicial District.

The filing period for superior and district court candidates begins at noon June 18 and ends at noon June 29. This year, judicial candidates may file as unaffiliated without having to qualify through the petition process.