Republicans win big in Tupelo, DeSoto County but Democrats show signs of life in Brookhaven.
To quote Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, Tuesday’s Municipal General Election turnout was “less than ideal.” Still, the voters who did go to the polls elected their local mayors and city officials for the next four years.
Below is a rundown of the races we were watching here at Y’all Politics. Some results may not be finalized as affidavit and absentee ballots could be outstanding.
Mayoral Races
Brandon
Incumbent Mayor Butch Lee (R) won re-election, gaining 80% of the vote over challenger Farrah Cox (I).
Brookhaven
Incumbent Mayor Joe Cox (R) is tied at 50% with Larry Jointer (D) but holds a narrow 20 vote margin.
Canton
Incumbent Mayor William Truly (D) held off Charles Chip Matthews (R) as expected, winning re-election 60% to 40%.
Ellisville
Incumbent Mayor Lynn Buckhaults (R) held off a challenge from Jalen Lindsey (D), winning re-election 60% to 40%.
Fulton
Emily Quinn (R) will be the new Mayor in Fulton after John Maxcy (D) dropped out.
Gautier
Incumbent Mayor Phil Torjusen (R) was upset by current Councilman Casey Vaughn (I). This was perhaps the biggest surprise of the night on the Coast. Vaughn defeated the first term mayor by less than 150 votes.
Gulfport
Incumbent Mayor Billy Hewes (R) won his third term, defeating Howard Page (D) 64% to 36%. The story here, however, is the extremely low voter turnout. In a city with nearly 72,000 people, only 4,100 bothered to go vote on Tuesday.
Hattiesburg
First-term incumbent Mayor Toby Barker (I) cruised to re-election, defeating Lakeylah White (D) by drawing 85% of the vote. Barker is a former Republican state representative.
Horn Lake
Incumbent Mayor Allen Latimer (R) defeated Jimmy Stokes (D) and Cole Bostick (I) to win a third term.
Jackson
Incumbent Mayor Chokwe Lumumba (D) took 69% of vote in the five person race that included three Independents and a Republican. The Republican only drew 4%.
Laurel
Incumbent Mayor Johnny Magee (D) topped the four person race, gaining the necessary 51% over the three Independents seeking to unseat him in Laurel.
New Albany
Incumbent Mayor Tim Kent (R) drew 77% of the vote to win re-election over James Dean (D).
Olive Branch
Ken Adams (R) won the Mayor’s race over Donald Hall (D), winning 67% of the vote.
Oxford
Incumbent Mayor Robyn Tannehill (I), who switched to Independent earlier this year, easily defeated challenger Brandon Pettis (I), drawing 89% of the tally.
Pass Christian
Newcomer Jim Rafferty (R) easily cruised to a win on Tuesday, drawing 75% over Peggy Johnson (D) and Zenas Cappie (I). Interestingly, the Democrat here finished third, only tallying 8% of the vote.
Pelahatchie
Karl VanHorn (R) unseated embattled incumbent Mayor Ryshonda Beecham (I), winning 57% to 43%.
Picayune
Longtime city staffer Jim Luke (R) won the mayor’s seat in Picayune, besting Leavern Guy (D) 74% to 26%.
Tupelo
Lee County Supervisor Todd Jordan (R) won 64% over Victor Fleitas (D), flipping the Mayor’s office from Democrat to Republican with the departure of incumbent Mayor Jason Shelton.
Vicksburg
Incumbent Mayor George Flaggs (I) won re-election over Daryl Hollingsworth (I) and Troy Kimble (D). Flaggs won 68% of the vote.
City Council Races
Brookhaven
Democrats outperformed here, gaining a majority on this board.
Gulfport
Republicans maintained the majority on the board as expected.
Hattiesburg
Republicans Jeffrey George and Carter Carroll, along with right-leaning Independent Dave Ware all won their races on Tuesday.
Horn Lake
Republicans swept all seats on the Tuesday ballot.
New Albany
Republicans won 2 of the 3 seats on the ballot on Tuesday. The other was narrowly won by an Independent.
Ocean Springs
Republicans swept and maintained their majority as predicted.
Olive Branch
Republicans swept all seats on the ballot.
Oxford
This will be a split board as there is now a mix of Republicans, Democrats and Independent.
Starkville
Democrats will hold the majority on this board as Ward 1 Councilman Ben Carver was the only Republican to win on Tuesday.
Tupelo
Republicans hold the majority on this board, winning all 5 races on the Tuesday ballot.
Vicksburg
Former state representative Alex Monsour (R) won re-election as South Ward Alderman on a board that includes the North Ward Alderman and the Mayor, George Flaggs. Monsour held off Vickie Bailey (D) winning 53% to 47%.
Frank Corder
