Taylor wins election for state senate

Lane Taylor won the Senate District 18 special election last Tuesday, securing a commanding 62% of the vote in Neshoba County.

“To be elected like that was humbling,” Taylor said. “I’m thankful for their vote, their support, their prayers, and I’m excited to get to work and get things done for the district.”

Taylor defeated challengers Mark Forsman, Lindsey Kidd, Marty Sistrunk, and Jackson “Ike” Melton with 2,023 total Neshoba County votes.

Forsman followed with 635 votes, while Kidd earned 385, Sistrunk received 97, and Melton garnered 86.

Across all counties, Taylor received a total of 2,881 votes, including 711 in Leake County and 147 in Winston County.

Forsman led in Winston County with 221 votes, or 50.46% of the total. Kidd followed Taylor with 59 votes, while Melton and Sistrunk received 7 and 4 votes, respectively.

In Leake County, Forsman was again the runner-up with 339 votes. Kidd received 125 votes, Melton had 113, and Sistrunk finished with 9.

Taylor won the District 18 Senate race with 58.1% of the vote across all counties.

Taylor said his priorities include building on now Justice Jenifer Branning’s efforts in the Senate to improve roads and bridges, attracting new jobs and industries, strengthening the education system, as well as advocating for farmers and loggers through support for agriculture and forestry.