Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree may still have to defeat Clarksdale native Bill Luckett on Aug. 23 to clinch the Democratic nomination in his race to be the state’s next governor, but his campaign already has made historical leaps.
DuPree is the first African American to get this far in a gubernatorial race in the state of Mississippi.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting Wednesday, DuPree captured 43 percent – or 171,333 – of the votes Tuesday, the most out of the four party contenders competing for the Democratic nomination.
Luckett only trailed DuPree by more than 20,000 votes. The attorney and businessman locked in 39 percent of Tuesday’s majority, or 155,195 votes.
The mayor’s campaign officials are quick to say DuPree is more concerned about advancing to the general election, capturing the governor win in November and implementing the policies he so adamantly believes will improve the state’s educational and economic situations than breaking glass ceilings.
Hattiesburg American
8/3/11
Magnolia Tribune
