The Latest: Baria says Mississippi Dems ‘exuberant’

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Latest on Mississippi Democratic Senate primary (all times local):

9:55 p.m.

Mississippi Democratic U.S. Senate nominee David Baria says he believes members of his party are “excited and exuberant” for a change in Washington.

Baria, a Bay St. Louis attorney and the minority leader in the state house, beat venture capitalist Howard Sherman of Meridian in Tuesday’s runoff.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who awaits Baria on the November ballot, is congratulating him, but also promising to keep working with President Donald Trump to “grow our economy, secure our borders, and keep Americans safe.”

Baria criticizes Wicker for embracing Trump and for having “served corporate interests” during his time in Congress.

Sherman says he’s disappointed that Mississippians resisted his message, with many criticizing his past voting as a Republican and donation to Wicker. He says he “absolutely” wants to see Democrats win both Senate seats in Mississippi this fall, but says voting for Baria was voting for Mississippi’s status quo.

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8:40 p.m.

Mississippi Democrats are nominating state Rep. David Baria to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, lining up behind a party stalwart as they reject a bid by a newcomer.

Baria is a Bay St. Louis attorney. He beat venture capitalist Howard Sherman of Meridian in Tuesday’s runoff.

Many Democratic politicians backed Baria, the state House minority leader, arguing that Sherman was an unknown quantity. The husband of actress Sela Ward, Sherman voted as a Republican in California and donated to Wicker. Sherman said that was an effort to prevent a tea party conservative from winning office.

Baria says he has the experience to make the uphill campaign against Wicker and be a productive senator.

The Reform Party’s Shawn O’Hara of Hattiesburg and Libertarian Danny Bedwell of Columbus also are running in November.

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22:35 p.m.

Mississippi Democrats are choosing between a party stalwart and a newcomer in Tuesday’s runoff for nomination to the U.S. Senate.

Either state House minority leader David Baria or venture capitalist Howard Sherman will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in November’s general election.

The Reform Party’s Shawn O’Hara and Libertarian Danny Bedwell are also running.

Sherman and Baria finished first and second in a six-candidate June 5 primary. Sherman was endorsed by third-place finisher state Rep. Omeria Scott. Many other officials back Baria, including Mississippi’s only Democratic member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson. They question Sherman’s Democratic credentials because he donated to Wicker and voted Republican in California.

Baria says he’ll advocate for education, health care and transportation. Sherman says he’ll bring a business-focused approach to Mississippi’s problems.