Dems pick Lumumba in Jackson mayor runoff

Chowke Lumumba (electlumumbamayor.com photo)

JACKSON – (AP) – Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba (SHOW-kway Lu-MOOM-bah) has defeated businessman Jonathan Lee in the Democratic primary runoff for Jackson mayor.

Chowke Lumumba (electlumumbamayor.com photo)

The Clarion-Ledger reports that unofficial results show the 65-year-old Lumumba winning 55% of the vote Tuesday.

The Democratic nominee is expected to become mayor. No Republican is running, though independent candidates Francis Smith, Jr., Richard Williams, Jr., and Cornelius Griggs are on the June 4 general election ballot. The new term begins July 1.

Lumumba, an attorney and civil rights activist, was active in a black nationalist group decades ago. But he ran as a mainstream candidate who would represent all city voters.

In the May 7 Democratic primary, Lee placed first, Lumumba was second and current Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. finished third in a field of 11 candidates.

Jackson is Mississippi’s largest city.

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