Voters head to the polls for primary races
Voters will be going to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 8 for primary elections including Sheriff and county supervisors.
Voters will cast votes on the Democrat Party or Republican Party ballots but not both. Locally, there is only one contested race on the Democrat Party ticket, with many races on the Republican side.
State and county primary elections will be decided. Here is a recap of the local races and candidates.
Incumbent Sheriff Eric Clark is being challenged by Jessie Hamilton in Tuesday’s Republican Primary. The winner will advance to the November 7 General Election to face off against Democrat Danny Carter, who is running unopposed.
District 1 Supervisor Keith Lillis is not running for re-election. Four candidates are seeking that position in the Republican Primary: Bobby Joe Lovern, Mike Snow, Ralph Nowell and Shelby Beason.
In the Supervisor District 2 race, incumbent Kevin Cumberland is being challenged by Republicans Brian Whittle, Devon Marshall, Susan G. Shoffner and Tony Myers in the primary. The winner advances to face independent John Stokes in the general election.
District 3 supervisor Kinsey Smith faces fellow Republicans Christopher C. Gardner, Jon Eubanks and Ryan Rowell in the primary. The winner advances to the general election to face independent Colby Pope.
In the District 4 Supervisor race, incumbent Kevin Wilcher will be challenged in the Republican Primary by former two-term supervisor Marty Sistrunk and Gordon Adkins.
District 5 Supervisor Obbie Riley will be challenged by Cynthia M. Graham in the Democrat Primary. The winner will face Republican David Carter and independent Deric Horne in the general election.
The Chancery Clerk’s office will get new leadership in 2024 as incumbent Guy Nowell is not seeking re-election. Brad Stuart and Gidget Stovall Tate will meet in the Republican Primary.
Incumbent Circuit Clerk Patti Duncan Lee is also not seeking re-election. Delana Waddell, Grant Myers, Heather Rushing Kennedy and Shannon Chaney Morrow will meet in the Republican Primary seeking to fill that office.
Constable Place 1 Josh Burt is not seeking re-election. John Lilley, Patrick L. Burt, Richard Cooney and Terry Todd will be seeking the Republican nomination in the primary. The winner faces independent Cortez Peebles in the general election.
Incumbent John Stephens is not seeking re-election as coroner/medical examiner. Myron Williams and Tim Watkins will face off in the Republican Primary.
There is a contested race in the general election for Election Commissioner Place 4 when nonpartisans Bill Carter and Melanie Breazeale Barnett meet.
Incumbent Justice Court Place 1 Judge Paul Payne is being challenged by Steve Cumberland in the Republican Primary.
Those elected officials running unopposed who will start new four-year terms in January will be Constable Place 2 Keith McCrory, Election Commissioner District 2 Deaneen Savell, Justice Court Judge Place 2 Johnathan Earl Spears, County Attorney Robert Lee Thomas and Tax Assessor/Collector Mike Lewis. District Attorney Steven S. Kilgore is also running unopposed in the Republican primary.
On the state side, Gov. Tate Reeves faces David Grady Hardigree in the Republican primary. Brandon Presley is running unopposed in the Democrat primary.
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann is facing off against State Sen. Chris McDaniel and Tiffany Longino in the Republican primary and the winner will face off against Democrat D. Ryan Grover in November.
Sec. of State Michael Watson is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face off against Democrat Shuwaski A. Young in November. Attorney General Lynn Fitch is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face off against Democrat Greta Kemp Martin in November.
State Treasurer David McRae is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face Democrat Addie L. Green in November.
Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face the winner of Robert Bradford Sr., Bethany Hill and Terry Rogers II in the Democrat primary.
Republican Mike Chaney is opposed by Mitch Young in the primary for Insurance Commissioner. The winner will face Democrat Bruce Burton in November.
State Auditor Shad White is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face Democrat Larry Bradford in November.
Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face Democrat DeKeither A. Stamps in November.
Republican Ricky Pennington Jr. will face off against incumbent Democrat Willie Simmons for Central Mississippi Transportation Commissioner in November.
State Sen. Jenifer Branning is running unopposed for another term as District 18 Senator. C. Scott Bounds is running unopposed for another term as District 44 State Representative.
Republican Michael Cassidy will face off against either Democrat Keith Jackson or Kenny Rush in November for the District 45 House seat.