Polls are now closed across Mississippi after primary races were held Tuesday for House and Senate seats forced to reshuffle after a federal order saying the state was diluting Black voting power with its legislative maps.
Of the 14 seats up for grabs, four are uncontested. The following incumbents, unless something drastic happens, will be back in office come January:
- Democratic Rep. Karl Gibbs in House District 36 (Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, and Oktibbeha counties)
- Republican Rep. Dana McLean in House District 39 (Lowndes and Monroe counties)
- Democratic Sen. Juan Barnett in Senate District 34 (Covington, Jasper, and Jones counties)
- Republican Sen. Joey Filingane in Senate District 41 (Covington, Lamar, Marion, and Walthall counties)
Seven of the 10 contested seats saw primaries with more than one candidate on Tuesday. Live updates throughout the night from each district will be provided below.
House District 16 (Chickasaw, Lee, Monroe, and Pontotoc counties)
7 p.m.: No updates yet. On the Democratic side, incumbent Rep. Rickey Thompson is being challenged by Brady Davis. Davis is the current CEO of the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation. More on each candidate can be found here. The winner will have no Republican or independent challengers during the Nov. 4 general election.
House District 22 (Chickasaw, Clay, and Monroe counties)
7 p.m.: This is one of the seats that residents already knew who would be on the ballot during the Nov. 4 general election: Incumbent Rep. Jon Lancaster and Democratic challenger Justin Crosby. More on both candidates can be found here.
House District 41 (Lowndes County)
7 p.m.: No updates yet. The winner of the Democratic primary will be the de facto winner with no Republican or independent candidates. Incumbent Rep. Kabir Karriem, the chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, is being challenged by embattled former Columbus City Councilman Pierre Beard. More on each candidate can be found here.
Senate District 1 (DeSoto and Tate counties)
7:30 p.m.: McLendon builds on the lead with 33 of 38 precincts reporting, according to the DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page. McLendon has 67.14% of the votes versus Jon Stevenson’s 31.9%.
7:23 p.m.: With 27 of 38 precincts reporting, DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page shows McLendon holding 69.4% of votes over Jon Steveson’s 29.21%. Tate County has an 8:30 p.m. estimated arrival of its side of the votes.
7 p.m.: No updates yet. The Republican primary is one to watch with incumbent Sen. Michael McLendon being challenged by former Alabama player and economic guru Jon Stevenson. Stevenson has picked up some steam as of late, getting endorsements from area leaders such as Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams. The winner will face Democrat Chris Hannah on Nov. 4. More on the candidates can be found here.
Senate District 2 (DeSoto and Tunica counties)
7:30 p.m.: With 33 of 38 precincts reporting, according to DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page, Theresa Isom maintains a big lead and looks to be heading toward victory. She has 78.37% compared to Walker’s 19.78%.
7:23 p.m.: With 27 of 38 precincts reporting, DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page shows Theresa Isom with a hefty lead over Robert Walker. Isom has 81.18% of votes. No word yet on Tunica County’s side of the votes.
7 p.m.: No updates yet. Southaven Alderman Charlie Hoots had no Republican opponents, but there’s a relatively busy field trying to face him on Nov. 3. Theresa Isom, Robert Walker, and Kelly Andress are all running on the blue ticket. More on the candidates can be found here.
Senate District 11 (Coahoma, DeSoto, Quitman, Tate, and Tunica counties)
7:30 p.m.: With 33 of 38 precincts reporting, according to DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page, Reginald Jackson has around 57% of votes compared to Abe Hudson, Jr.’s 40%. A small number of write-in votes make up the rest.
7:23 p.m.: With 27 of 38 precincts reporting, DeSoto County’s official government Facebook page shows Reginald Jackson with a 16-point lead over Abe Hudson, Jr. No word yet on Quitman, Tate, and Tunica counties’ side of the votes.
7 p.m.: No updates yet. The Democratic primary here sees incumbent Sen. Reginald Jackson being challenged by former Rep. Abe Hudson, Jr. The winner will face Republican Kendall Prewett on Nov. 4. More on the candidates can be found here.
Senate District 19 (DeSoto County)
7 p.m.: In another race where Nov. 4 will be more interesting, neither incumbent Republican Sen. Kevin Blackwell nor Democrat Dianne Black had primary challengers. More on each candidate can be found here.
Senate District 42 (Forrest, Greene, Jones, and Wayne counties)
7 p.m.: No updates yet. Arguably, the race most people are talking about, incumbent Republican Sen. Robin Robinson is being challenged by her own brother, RJ, and Don Hartness in the party primary. More information on the candidates can be found here. No Democrats are running.
Senate District 44 (Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties)
7:45 p.m.: With 48% of precincts reporting, Patrick Lott has taken a 123-vote lead over Sen. Chris Johnson. The challenger has garnered 54.6% of the vote while the incumbent has received 45.4% of ballots cast.
7 p.m.: No updates yet. Republican Sen. Chris Johnson is facing Patrick Lott in the party primary. Democrat Shakita Taylor awaits on the other side. More information on the candidates can be found here.
Senate District 45 (Forrest and Lamar counties)
7 p.m.: The final race, where voters will wait until the general election. Democrat Johnny Dupree will face Republican Ann Rush on Nov. 4. Dupree is the former mayor of Hattiesburg and was once the Democratic nominee for governor, while Rush is considered a rising star in the legal field. More information on the candidates can be found here.
