Voting has come to an end for Mississippi’s primary election runoffs. With six House of Representatives races on Tuesday’s ballot, five have been called with the other waiting for the final votes to roll in. Catch up with the results below.
House District 2 (R)
In what is a surprise to many around the state, incumbent GOP Rep. Nick Bain is on the verge of being upset with 99 percent of precincts reporting. As of Wednesday afternoon, Bain was at 49.76 percent (2,329 votes) in comparison to challenger Brad Mattox’s 50.3 percent (2,345 votes). Bain, a three-term representative from Corinth, used the final days leading up to the runoff to double down on cutting the grocery tax and protecting retirement benefits. Mattox, a gun store owner running on a small business and tax cut platform, was endorsed by third-place candidate and former Corinth alderman Chris Wilson heading into Tuesday. Per a report from the Daily Journal, Bain’s vote to replace the old state flag has been an issue among voters.
House District 66 (D)
Fabian Nelson, an owner of a local real estate firm, is set to become the state’s first openly gay lawmaker after defeating Roshunda Harris-Allen in the Democratic runoff for District 66. Mississippi is one of two states – Louisiana being the other – to have never elected an out LGBTQ+ person to the state legislature.
District 66, located in Hinds County and including parts of southwest Jackson, has no Republicans seeking the position. By default, Nelson will become the district’s next representative, replacing De’Keither Stamps as Stamps takes another crack at central district public service commissioner. Nelson finished with 69 percent (1,296 votes) in comparison to Harris-Allen’s 31 percent (582 votes).
House District 69 (D)
With longtime Rep. Alyce Clark retiring after 38 years in the House, Tamarra Butler-Washington is in line to take over the position after beating former Jackson mayoral candidate Patty Patterson by nearly 27 points, or 385 votes. Butler-Washington, the first to file qualifying papers after Clark’s retirement announcement in February, serves as a Mississippi Senate clerk. She has also held leadership positions with the Mississippi State Department of Health, the City of Jackson, and the American Cancer Society.
According to her campaign. Butler-Washington’s priorities will include education and healthcare enhancement, job creation, and supporting worker’s rights and voter empowerment. She will be unopposed in the general election.
House District 72 (D)
Rukia Lumumba, sister of controversial Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, was bounced from the race for House District 72 after falling to Justis Gibbs by around 23 points, or 576 votes. Gibbs, a local attorney, will replace his mother, Rep. Debra Gibbs, who was recently elected as a Hinds County Circuit Court judge.
District 72, which covers parts of north Jackson and a portion of Ridgeland, does not have a Republican running. By default, Gibbs will become the district’s next representative.
House District 105 (R)
In southeast Mississippi in District 105, Republican challenger Elliot Burch (3,151 votes) defeated first-term incumbent Rep. Dale Goodin (1,046 votes) by a 51-point margin. The win from Burch, a former law enforcement officer and district attorney, comes as no shocker as he handily defeated Burch in the Aug. 8 primary election but was unable to pass the 50-percent threshold at the time.
Burch will face Democrat Matthew Daves in the general election with the winner set to be the new representative for portions of Perry, Greene, and George counties.
House District 115 (R)
Vying for the Harrison County seat held by retiring Rep. Randall Patterson, Zachary Grady beat Felix Gaines by around 230 votes, or 21 points, to secure his future as a state lawmaker. Grady, a former law enforcement officer, will represent portions of Biloxi and D’Iberville with no Democrats on the ticket.
