With one exception in the 2nd Congressional District, the matchups for November’s general election have been set following Tuesday’s primary in Mississippi.
- Presidential Primary:
There was little suspense in the Presidential primary last night as Joe Biden was declared the winner of the Democratic race before the polls had even closed. The former VP ended the night with 81% of the vote. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders finished in a distant second with 15%, and the remainder of the votes were split between 8 other candidates.
Prior to Tuesday’s vote, Biden visited Mississippi’s capital city on Sunday and spoke at a rally at Tugaloo College. Sanders was originally set to speak at the Two Mississippi Museums on March 6th, but the event was canceled.
President Donald Trump also cruised to an easy victory over two little known challengers.
- U.S. Senate Race:
In the race for U.S. Senate, we’re headed for a rematch as former Congressman Mike Espy won the Democratic nomination. He’ll face incumbent Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who was unopposed last night, in November. Hyde-Smith defeated Espy in a special election in November 2018 after she was originally appointed by then-Governor Phil Bryant to fill the seat of the late-Senator Thad Cochran, who retired due to health concerns earlier that year.
Hyde-Smith became the first woman elected to represent Mississippi in Congress by winning the election by a 54%-46% margin.
- Congressional Races
In the Congressional races, the three incumbents facing primary challengers defeated their opponents and will move on to November. One race, the Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District, will head to a runoff.
- 1st Congressional District:
Incumbent Republican Congressman Trent Kelly did not face a primary opponent. He’ll face Antonia Eliason in November. Eliason, an Ole Miss law professor, was also unopposed last night.
- 2nd Congressional District:
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson overwhelmingly won the nomination over Sonia Rathburn by a 94%-6% margin. The Republican primary will head to a runoff after Brian Flowers and Carey Thomas each received around 37% of the vote last night.
They’ll hit the campaign trail as they try to swing the 26% of voters who put their support behind B.C. Hammond. The runoff will be held on March 31st.
- 3rd Congressional District:
Incumbent Republican Michael Guest faced a challenge from James Tulp, a radio host, but Guest easily moved on to November with nearly 90% of the vote. In the Democratic primary, Dorothy Benford earned the party’s nomination with 64% of the vote, defeating Katelyn Lee.
- 4th Congressional District:
Incumbent Republican Congressman Steven Palazzo has secured his seat in D.C. after defeating 3 challengers in last night’s primary. Palazzo got nearly 67% the vote with Robert Deming finishing in second with 14% and Samuel Hickman and Carl Boyanton each received around 9%.
With no Democrats in the race, Palazzo will be unopposed in November.
