Republicans cruised to victory in local elections last Tuesday, while GOP candidates also won overwhelming support in state contests.

Alabama&8217;s most &8220;red&8221; county voted almost exclusively for Republican candidates. In fact, the races for governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and state auditor went GOP by a three-to-one margin.

State House Representative and two-time incumbent Jimmy Martin gave Democrats their sole Shelby County win in District 42.

In local races:

-Sheriff Chris Curry soundly defeated challenger Charlie O. Loyd to earn a second term as Shelby County&8217;s top lawman.

With 75 of 76 boxes counted, the Republican had earned 38,605 votes or 81 percent of the vote. Loyd received 8,760 votes or 18 percent of ballots cast.

-Republican James T. &8220;Jabo&8221; Waggoner will continue to make history, as one of Alabama&8217;s longest serving state legislators.

With all the ballots counted, Waggoner defeated Democratic hopeful Russ Parker in Alabama&8217;s 16th Senate District. Waggoner garnered 34,176 marks (78 percent) to Parker’s 9,783 (22 percent).

In Shelby County, Waggoner received even more support, gathering 81 percent of votes cast.

District 16th is located partly in Jefferson and Shelby counties.

Waggoner has been involved in state politics since he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1966.

-Democrat Jimmy Martin was re-elected to a third term as representative for Alabama’s 42nd House District.

With 22 of 23 boxes counted, Martin edged out GOP challenger Allen Caton by 2,900 votes. Martin earned 7,943 (61 percent) votes to Caton&8217;s 5,059 (39 percent).

Alabama House 42 is located in both Shelby and Chilton counties.

In Shelby County, Martin gathered 526 votes to Caton&8217;s 337.

-Incumbent Steve Martin was chosen

to serve a fourth term as a member of the Shelby County Board of Education.

In the Place 2 election, Martin beat out Democratic opponent Clovia Wheeler by a 3-to-1 margin. With 75 of 76 precincts reporting, Martin had earned 36,012 votes (77 percent) to Wheeler’s 10,556 (23 percent).

Martin has been the school board’s vice-president for nine years.

-Senator Hank Erwin and Representatives Steve French, Mike Hill, Mary Sue McClurkin, Greg Canfield and Cam Ward won their respective primaries in June and faced no Democratic opposition.

A total of 48,980 votes were cast in the county Tuesday, up from the 29,237 ballots marked in the June primary