Mississippi held its Republican and Democratic Party Primary Elections on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know.
Candidates in the Republican and Democratic Primary Elections for Mississippi Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General, and Treasurer we unopposed on Tuesday, as were candidates for Transportation Commissioner in all three districts and for Central District Public Service Commissioner.
Here’s a rundown of the competitive state and legislative races Magnolia Tribune was tracking as results came in on Primary Election night:
Governor
Incumbent Tate Reeves easily won the Republican Primary setting up a General Election matchup with Democrat nominee Brandon Presley and Independent Gwendolyn Gray.
Lt. Governor
Incumbent Delbert Hosemann pulled out a big Primary win over State Senator Chris McDaniel and Tiffany Longino on the Republican ticket. D. Ryan Grover, a Democrat, will meet Hosemann in the General Election.
Insurance Commissioner
Incumbent Commissioner Mike Chaney easily defeated Mitch Young in the Republican Primary, setting up a contest with Democrat Bruce Burton in November.
Agriculture Commissioner
Incumbent Republican Andy Gipson was unopposed in the primary. As of the time of this article, Democrat Robert Bradford has pulled ahead in the three-person race with over 51% with 84% of the precincts reporting.
North District Public Service Commissioner
State Rep. Chris Brown bested Tanner Newman in the Republican Primary, flipping the seat to the R column as no Democrats filed to run to replace outgoing Commissioner turned Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley.
Southern District Public Service Commissioner
In perhaps the biggest upset of the night, newcomer Nelson Wayne Carr upset incumbent first-term Commissioner Dane Maxwell in the Republican Primary. Maxwell is currently the chairman of the Public Service Commission. With no Democrat in the race, Carr will be the new Commissioner come January.
State Senate
Brian Rhodes will be the new State Senator in SD 36 after winning the Republican Primary and having no November opponent.
State Rep. Robin Robinson moves to the Senate after winning SD 42’s GOP Primary. She will succeed outgoing State Sen. McDaniel.
Republican incumbent Senator Philip Moran in SD 46 was upset on Tuesday in the Republican Primary by Philman Ladner. With no general election opponent, Ladner will be the next Senator from the Coast.
State House
Incumbent State Rep. Nick Bain was forced into a Republican runoff with challenger Brad Mattox in HD 2.
Justin Keen defeated James Wallace in the HD 6 Republican Primary. Keen will face Democrat Jarvis Cook in November.
In HD 7, Kimberly Remak hopes to avoid a runoff in the Republican Primary. She sits at 50% as of now. Democrat Gail Lyons waits in the wings for the general election.
Incumbent State Rep. Brady Williamson lost to Republican challenger Josh Hawkins in HD 10.
Rodney Hall, a black Republican candidate, made history in his win in the HD 20 Republican Primary.
Andrew Stepp upset incumbent State Rep. Perry Bailey in the Republican Primary. Stepp now faces Democrat Danny Lampley in November.
HD 27 will have a new Democrat State Representative in Kenji Holloway.
W.I. Harris defeated John Williams in HD 28.
Jim Estrada won the three-man race in HD 33’s Republican Primary. He’ll be the next State Representative for the area come January.
Republican Jacob Hisaw will meet incumbent Democrat State Rep. Hester Jackson-McCray in the general election.
Democrat Keith Jackson and former Congressional candidate Michael Cassidy, a Republican, will vie for HD 45 in November.
Presumptive Speaker Jason White of HD 48 easily won re-election in the Republican Primary.
Timaka James-Jones defeated incumbent State Rep. Rufus Straughter in the HD 51 Democratic Primary.
Jonathan McMillan is the next State Representative for HD 58 after winning the GOP Primary.
Lance Varner bested Jeremy Lee in the HD 62 Republican Primary.
HD 66 and HD 69 look to be headed to a runoff in that Democratic Primary three-person race.
Justis Gibbs and Rukia Lumumba will meet in the HD 72 Democratic runoff in three weeks.
Republican Charles Blackwell will be the next State Representative in HD 88.
In HD 105, incumbent State Rep. Dale Goodin finished second to Elliott Burch. The two will face off in a runoff with the winner advancing to the general election.
State Rep. Doug McLeod was defeated by Ronald Lott in the HD 107 GOP Primary.
Over in HD 111, the new State Representative in Jackson County to replace outgoing Rep. Charles Busby will be Jimmy Fondren.
The three-man Republican Primary in HD 115 appears to be headed to a runoff in three weeks between Zachary Grady and Felix Gines.
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Results and races will be added as they are finalized and are subject to change based on the final results. Be sure to check back for a complete rundown.
Frank Corder
