Palazzo vs Taylor highlights Republican House race
In the 2010 general election, Steven Palazzo unseated 11-term Congressman Gene Taylor to claim Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District slot in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On June 3, the two will square off for the first time since then, only this time the confrontation will come in the Republican primary.
Palazzo, running for a third two-year term, will face Taylor and three others — Tom Carter, Tavish Kelly and Ron Vincent — to move on to the Nov. 4 general election.
If none of the five receives a minimum 50-percent-plus-one-vote majority, a runoff will be held June 24 between the top two vote-getters.
The winner of the Republican primary will face a five-person opposing slate that will include the winner of the Democratic primary between Trish Causey and Matt Moore, independents Cindy Burleson and Ed Reich, Libertarian Party candidate Joey Robinson and Reform Party candidate Eli “Sarge” Jackson.
Palazzo said he wants to return to Washington, D.C., to continue to right what he sees as the wrongs of President Barack Obama’s administration.
“We’ve fought hard to stop (President) Obama’s big government agenda and to change the culture of Washington, but I believe our work is not finished,” Palazzo said. “I want to continue to rein in spending, and keep taxes low so that small businesses and families have an opportunity to get ahead in America.”
Taylor, a former “Blue Dog” Democrat, switched party affiliations as he announced earlier this year his intention to try and regain the 4th Congressional District seat.
“I want to restore people’s confidence that Congress will address the national debt, to give people the confidence to invest in their homes and in their children’s education, so we can get the economy going again,” Taylor said.
Hattiesburg American
5/28/14
Magnolia Tribune
