McCook News Now

05/13/2026

UNOFFICIAL END-OF-NIGHT RESULTS
Red Willow County Primary Election

• Dalton Downing leads the Red Willow County Sheriff’s race with 1,313 votes (65.62%) to Milton Blaine Varney’s 626 votes (31.28%).

• In the Republican race for Red Willow County Clerk, Leanne Miller received 1,107 votes (55.32%) to Penny Cooper’s 792 votes (39.58%).

• In the McCook City Council race, the top three vote-getters are Joel Arterburn (808), Nick Umscheid (798) and Rose Weskamp (622). Dennis Berry (513), Gene Weedin (508) and Kaleb Taylor (486) followed closely behind.

• In Legislative District 38, Wes Wilmot led with 616 votes, followed by Janell Anderson Ehrke with 583 and Tim Anderson with 501.

• Ted Gans received 443 votes in the Republican primary for Commissioner District 1, while Joseph Robinson received 232 votes.

• The Republican primary for Commissioner District 3 remained very close, with Charles Fritsche receiving 343 votes and Michael Pochop receiving 331 votes.

• Red Willow County voters also strongly favored incumbent Republicans in statewide races, including Pete Ricketts for U.S. Senate, Adrian Smith for Congress and Jim Pillen for Governor.

These results are unofficial and subject to canvassing.

05/13/2026

UPDATED UNOFFICIAL RESULTS —

• Dalton Downing continues to lead the sheriff’s race with 1,069 votes (64.09%) to Milton Blaine Varney’s 548 votes (32.85%).

• Current McCook City Council leaders are Joel Arterburn (647), Nick Umscheid (624) and Rose Weskamp (496). Gene Weedin (424) and Dennis Berry (410) remain close behind.

• In Legislative District 38, Wes Wilmot leads with 511 votes, followed by Janell Anderson Ehrke with 485 and Tim Anderson with 419.

• Ted Gans leads Commissioner District 1 with 316 votes to Joseph Robinson’s 158.

• Commissioner District 3 remains close with Charles Fritsche at 332 votes and Michael Pochop at 321.

These results remain unofficial and are still subject to change as additional totals are reported.

05/13/2026

05/13/2026

Updated local election totals from Red Willow County:

County Clerk
Leanne M. Miller — 508
Penelope Cooper — 441

County Commissioner District 1
Theodore G. Gans — 236
Joseph K. Robinson II — 116

County Sheriff
Dalton R. Downing — 634
Milton B. Varney — 344

McCook City Council

Gene L. Weedin — 256
Joel T. Arterburn — 384
Nick Umscheid — 380
Rose Westcamp — 326
Dennis Berry — 265
Gene L. Weedin — 256
Kaleb J. Taylor — 227
Chelsey Eng — 188
Dean McCoy — 141

McCook News Now will continue sharing updates as additional results are released tonight.

05/13/2026

Updated #2 Red Willow County election totals as additional precincts report Tuesday night results.

County Clerk
Leanne M. Miller — 275
Penelope Cooper — 272

County Commissioner District 3
Charles L. Fritsche — 160
Michael A. Pochop — 163

County Sheriff
Dalton R. Downing — 354
Milton B. Varney — 212

McCook City Council
Gene L. Weedin — 209
Rose Westcamp — 239
Nick Umscheid — 283
Joel T. Arterburn — 282
Dennis Berry — 203
Kaleb J. Taylor — 176
Chelsey Eng — 151
Dean McCoy — 115

McCook News Now will continue sharing updates as more results are released tonight.

05/13/2026

Red Willow County early vote totals are in for several local and statewide races ahead of tonight’s election results.

County Clerk
Penelope Cooper — 216
Leanne M. Miller — 187

County Commissioner District 1
Theodore G. Gans — 92
Joseph K. Robinson II — 50

County Commissioner District 3
Charles L. Fritsche — 88
Michael A. Pochop — 89

County Sheriff
Dalton R. Downing — 252
Milton B. Varney — 160

McCook City Council
Gene L. Weedin — 135
Kaleb J. Taylor — 104
Chelsey Eng — 117
Nick Umscheid — 176
Dean McCoy — 77
Joel T. Arterburn — 179
Rose Westcamp — 180
Dennis Berry — 141

Governor — GOP Primary
Jim Pillen — 280
Sheila Korth-Focken — 44
John Walz — 39
Jacy Todd — 14
Gary Rogge — 13
Sal Holguin — 4

Governor — Dem Primary
Lynne Walz — 96
Larry Marvin — 15

Secretary of State — GOP Primary
Bob Evnen — 185
Scott Petersen — 193

Secretary of State — Dem Primary
Sarah Slattery — 93
Lee Cimfel — 14

U.S. Senate Class II — GOP Primary
Pete Ricketts — 314
Debb Schultz — 40
Todd Knobel — 33
Mac Stevens — 16
Eric Mortimore — 14

U.S. Senate Class II — Dem Primary
Cindy Burbank — 100
William Forbes — 10

U.S. House District 3 — GOP Primary
Adrian Smith — 250
David Huebner — 167

State Legislature District 38
Janell Anderson Ehrke — 162
Wes Wilmot — 134
Melanie Knight — 111
Tim Anderson — 106
Jon Capps — 53

McCook News Now will continue sharing updates as additional results are released tonight.

05/12/2026

McCook fifth grade students were recognized in the statewide Nebraska Digital Citizenship Message Contest hosted through the Nebraska Digital Citizenship Symposium.

Students earned honors for projects focused on digital citizenship and positive online behavior. The projects were completed throughout the year in Miss Francescato’s social studies class alongside district Technology Coordinator Mrs. Williams.

🔗Read more on the McCook News Now website linked in the comments.

05/12/2026

Great progress being made on the new playground equipment at Barnett Park.

05/12/2026

Congratulations!

👇👏🎉 Mrs. Sharp is well respected and will do GREAT in this role! We're super excited to have her lead Central Elementary!