A bitter sheriff's primary, a write-in campaign and a county divided

A county sheriff in Alabama who has held the job for more than 27 years lost his Republican primary in May by roughly 300 votes, and a loosely organized effort is now pushing Lee County voters to write him in anyway on Election Day. Sheriff Jay Jones was beaten by Cameron Hunt, a former deputy. Jones tells CBS News he has had no role in the push and has asked no one for votes, adding that he believes the Alabama Republican Party threatened to expel him because of it.

Resident Jack Carter, a furniture maker and onetime deputy who calls Jones a mentor, says the signs spread fast across yards, trucks and businesses. Hunt's backers call it sour grapes, Jones' backers say any name may be written in, and some signs have been stolen. Carter calls the situation chaotic. The campaign's organizers remain unidentified.

The candidates split on immigration, firearms and Flock surveillance. Jones says more than 450 people went from the county jail to ICE custody over two years, though no signed agreement exists. Hunt intends to enter a 287(g) pact and drop the Flock contract.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →