3 Mississippi primary runoff races too close to call

A poll worker hands out "I Voted" stickers to all who exit the voting booths. Mississippi voters will return to the polls Nov. 3 for the general election. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A poll worker hands out "I Voted" stickers to all who exit the voting booths. Mississippi voters will return to the polls Nov. 3 for the general election. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A poll worker hands out “I Voted” stickers to all who exit the voting booths. Mississippi voters will return to the polls Nov. 3 for the general election. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

(AP) Party primary runoffs were too close to call in three Mississippi legislative races because of uncounted absentee or affidavit votes.

One was in House District 24 in part of DeSoto County, where Jeff Hale and Rob Goudy were in a Republican runoff. The winner will be unopposed in November. This is a new district created because of growth in DeSoto County.

Another close race was in House District 30 in parts of Bolivar, Quitman, Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties. Democratic state Rep. Robert Huddleston was competing with Lester Williams. The winner will be unopposed in November.

The other close race was in House District 42 in parts of Lowndes, Noxubee and Winston counties. Carl Mickens and Eugene Crosby were in a Democratic runoff. The winner will face independent Dorothy Baker Hines.

JACKSON COUNTY RESULTS

(31 of 31 precincts reporting)

Public Service Commissioner – Southern District
S.F. “Sam” Britton        6495
Tony Smith                  4962

Senate – District 47
J.M. “Mike” Seymour    1376
Mike Tyson                  232
Jackson County Circuit Clerk
Randy Carney             7231
J.T. “Tommy” Martin    4493

Tax Assessor
Nick Elmore                8055
Greta Hearndon          3646

Board of Supervisors – District 1
Barry Cumbest             2121
Sabrina Smith              1777

Board of Supervisors – District 3
Ken Taylor                   1805
Michael Whitmore        1378

Board of Supervisors – District 4
Tommy Brodnax           1204
Troy Ross                    1397

Justice Court Judge – District 1
Gerald Wayne Jones     2460
Matt Lachaussee           2631

Justice Court Judge – District 2
D. “Danny” Guice III        1366
David McVeay                1151

STATE RUNOFFS GOP

Public Service Comm Southern

640 of 641 precincts – 99 percent

x-Sam Britton, GOP 42,484 – 59 percent

Tony Smith, GOP 29,899 – 41 percent

Business investor Sam Britton has won the Republican nomination for the Southern District seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

Britton, of Laurel, defeated state Sen. Tony Smith of Picayune in Tuesday’s party primary runoff.

Britton will face Democrat Tom Blanton and Reform Party candidate Lonny Keith Spence, both of Hattiesburg, in the Nov. 3 general election.

The Public Service Commission regulates utilities.

The current Southern District commissioner, Steve Renfroe, did not run this year. Renfroe does not publicly identify with a political party.

House District 24 

10 of 10 precincts – 100 percent

Jeff Hale, GOP 1,666 – 50 percent

Rob Goudy, GOP 1,653 – 50 percent

House District 46 

33 of 33 precincts – 100 percent

x-Karl Oliver, GOP 522 – 60 percent

Shed Hunger, GOP 345 – 40 percent

Karl Oliver has won the Republican primary runoff in House District 46 in parts of Carroll, Grenada, Leflore, Montgomery and Webster counties.

Oliver defeated Shed Hunger on Tuesday and will face Democrat Ken Strachan in the general election.

Republican Rep. Bobby Howell of Kilmichael has held the seat since 1992 but did not run this year.

House District 87

16 of 16 precincts – 100 percent

x-Chris Johnson, GOP 1,949 – 59 percent

Michael Davis, GOP 1,351 – 41 percent

Chris Johnson has won the Republican nomination in House District 87 in parts of Forrest and Lamar counties.

Johnson defeated Michael Davis in Tuesday’s primary runoff, and will face independent Paul B. Johnson IV in the general election.

This is a new district created because of growth. The previous District 87 included different counties and it was reconfigured during redistricting.

Senate District 18

47 of 47 precincts – 100 percent

x-Jenifer Branning, GOP 3,270 – 62 percent

Mark Forsman, GOP 2,008 – 38 percent

Jenifer Branning has won the Senate District 18 seat in parts of Leake, Neshoba and Winston counties.

She defeated Mark Forsman in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff. Branning will be unopposed in November and will begin a four-year term in January.

The current District 18 senator, Republican Giles Ward of Louisville, did not seek re-election. Ward is currently the Senate president pro tempore, and presides over the Senate when Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is not available. All 52 senators choose the pro tem.

Senate District 47

34 of 34 precincts – 100 percent

x-Joseph Seymour, GOP 2,671 – 51 percent

Mike Tyson, GOP 2,544 – 49 percent

Joseph Seymour defeated Mike Tyson in a Republican primary runoff in Senate District 47 in parts of Jackson, Pearl River and Stone counties.

Seymour will face Democrat Jimmy “Bo” Alawine in the general election. The current District 47 senator, Republican Tony Smith of Picayune, served one term and ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

 

STATE RUNOFFS DEMOCRATS

Transportation Comm Central

542 of 553 precincts – 98 percent

x-Mary Coleman, Dem 33,645 – 68 percent

Robert Amos, Dem 15,917 – 32 percent

Longtime Rep. Mary Coleman has won the Democratic nomination for the Central District seat on the Mississippi Transportation Commission.

Coleman defeated businessman Robert Amos in Tuesday’s party primary runoff. Both candidates are from Jackson.

Coleman will face Republican incumbent Dick Hall of Brandon in the Nov. 3 general election.

Hall is a former state senator who has served on the three-member Transportation Commission since 1999.

Coleman has been in the state House since 1994.

House District 27 

23 of 23 precincts – 100 percent

x-Kenneth Walker, Dem 1,588 – 52 percent

Leroy Lacy, Dem 1,444 – 48 percent

Kenneth Walker has won the Democratic nomination in House District 27, in parts of Attala, Leake, Madison and Yazoo counties.

He defeated Leroy Lacy in Tuesday’s primary runoff and will face Republican Ricky Dewayne Gill in November.

The current District 27 representative, Democrat Ferr Smith of Carthage, did not seek re-election.

House District 30

18 of 18 precincts – 100 percent

Robert Huddleston, Dem (i) 2,066 – 52 percent

Lester Williams, Dem 1,909 – 48 percent

House District 36 

20 of 20 precincts – 100 percent

x-Karl Gibbs, Dem (i) 2,036 – 58 percent

Jimmy Davidson, Dem 1,482 – 42 percent

Democratic Rep. Karl Gibbs of West Point has been re-elected to the Mississippi House. He defeated Jimmy Davidson in a runoff Tuesday in House District 36 in parts of Clay and Monroe counties.

Gibbs will be unopposed in November and will begin a four-year term in January. He was elected in 2013 to succeed his father, the late Rep. David Gibbs.

House District 42 

17 of 17 precincts – 100 percent

x-Carl Mickens, Dem 3,232 – 54 percent

Eugene Crosby, Dem 2,727 – 46 percent


House District 70

18 of 18 precincts – 100 percent

x-Kathy Sykes, Dem 1,144 – 54 percent

Samuel Begley, Dem 963 – 46 percent

Kathy Sykes has won the Democratic nomination in House District 70 in part of Hinds County.

Sykes defeated Samuel Begley in a runoff Tuesday and will face Republican James “Pete” Perry in the general election.

The current District 70 representative, Democrat Jim Evans of Jackson, did not seek re-election.

Senate District 34

44 of 44 precincts – 100 percent

x-Juan Barnett, Dem 4,166 – 63 percent

Trey Chinn, Dem 2,499 – 37 percent

Juan Barnett has won a Mississippi Senate seat in parts of Forrest, Jasper and Jones counties.

Barnett defeated Trey Chinn in a Democratic primary Tuesday. Barnett will be unopposed in November and will begin a four-year term in January.

The current District 34 senator, Democrat Haskins Montgomery of Bay Springs, did not seek re-election
Senate District 38

54 of 54 precincts – 100 percent

x-Tammy Witherspoon, Dem 4,030 – 54 percent

Angela Brooks, Dem 3,426 – 46 percent

Tammy Witherspoon has won the Democratic nomination in Senate District 38 in parts of Adams, Amite, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson counties.

She defeated Angela Brooks and will face Republican Dennis C. Quinn in the General Election.

The current District 38 senator, Democrat Kelvin Butler of McComb, did not seek re-election.