The Latest: Reeves, Waller headed for runoff in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Latest on the Republican and Democratic primaries in Mississippi’s governor’s race (all times local):

12:53 a.m.

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. are headed to a runoff for the Republican nomination for governor.

First-term state Rep. Robert Foster was eliminated from the three-person primary Tuesday.

GOP Gov. Phil Bryant couldn’t seek a third term. The winner of the Aug. 27 Republican runoff will face Democrat Jim Hood as well as an independent and a Constitution Party candidate in November.

Forty-five-year-old Reeves has presided over the Mississippi Senate for two terms as lieutenant governor after two terms as state treasurer.

Reeves campaigned on a record of tax-cutting. Sixty-seven-year-old Waller said Mississippi needs to spend more money on highways.

Reeves opposes Medicaid expansion. Waller said Mississippi should seek federal permission to let low-income residents purchase Medicaid coverage.

Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky are electing governors this year.

___

9:13 p.m.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has won the Democratic nomination for governor.

He defeated seven lesser-known candidates Tuesday and will face a Republican, an independent and a Constitution Party candidate in November.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant could not seek a third term this year. Hood is trying to become Mississippi’s first Democratic governor since Ronnie Musgrove was defeated in 2003 after a single term.

The 57-year-old Hood is completing his fourth term as attorney general and is the only Democrat holding statewide office in Mississippi. He was previously a district attorney.

Hood frequently says he’s running for governor to help “the least among us,” including the poor. He says Mississippi needs to improve schools and highways.

Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky are electing governors this year.

____

12:10 a.m.

Mississippi’s fourth-term attorney general, Jim Hood, is trying to defeat seven low-budget candidates in a Democratic gubernatorial primary in hopes of a bigger goal in November: breaking a Republican grip on the governorship lasting 24 of the past 28 years.

Party primaries are Tuesday in Mississippi, one of three states electing a governor this year. Louisiana and Kentucky are the others. Voters are weighing which party should take charge amid questions about the future economic direction of the conservative Southern state.

Second-term Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is backed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who cannot seek a third term. His primary opponents are former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and state Rep. Robert Foster.

If primary runoffs are needed, they will be Aug. 27.