JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Latest on Mississippi party primaries (all times local):
12:55 a.m.
A longtime Republican figure will join state Treasurer Lynn Fitch in a runoff seeking the GOP nomination for Mississippi attorney general.
Andy Taggart of Madison finished second in Tuesday’s voting, trailing Fitch but edging out state Rep. Mark Baker of Brandon to advance.
Taggart was chief of staff for Republican Gov. Kirk Fordice in the 1990s and is a former Madison County supervisor.
The Republican nominee will face Democrat Jennifer Riley Collins of Clinton in the Nov. 5 general election. Collins is a lawyer, military veteran and former director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi. She was unopposed for her party’s nomination.
The winner will be Mississippi’s first new attorney general in 16 years. Jim Hood is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor on Tuesday.
Taggart says he’s running to fight illegal drugs after his son died from suicide at 21 while struggling with drugs.
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12:05 a.m.
Two-term incumbent Transportation Commissioner Tom King of Hattiesburg will return for a third term, after defeating two other Republicans in Tuesday’s primary.
No Democrats have qualified for the seat.
The 72-year-old King beat Poplarville alderman and former state Sen. Tony Smith, as well as Mississippi Department of Transportation retiree Chad Toney of Smithdale.
King says the department has grown more efficient since he became commissioner and asked voters to retain his experience, especially because the two other commissioners will be new.
He says the department is thankful for up to $80 million in projected yearly money from a state lottery, but needs more to fill a $400-million-a-year shortfall in maintenance needs. King favors a fuel tax increase, whether matched with a tax cut or not.
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11:40 p.m.
A Jackson City Councilman and a frequent candidate have advanced to a runoff for Public Service Commissioner in Mississippi’s central district. De’Keither Stamps ran first in the four-candidate field Tuesday, with fellow Jackson resident Dorothy “Dot” Benford finishing second.
Councilman Stamps has emphasized energy efficiency for governments. The 42-year-old wants to work with city and county governments and school districts to save energy and cut utility bills. He said lower utility bills would give governments more to spend on other things. Benford has at least nine previous unsuccessful runs for office.
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11:20 p.m.
A former DeSoto County supervisor and an Oxford defense consultant are advancing to a runoff in the Republican race for transportation commissioner in Mississippi’s northern district. John Caldwell of Nesbit was leading four other candidates later Tuesday, with Geoffrey Yoste of Oxford finishing second. The runoff will be Aug. 27.
The eventual Republican nominee will face Democrat Joey Grist, who was unopposed Tuesday.
The 58-year-old Caldwell ran for transportation commissioner in 2003 and 2011. The Nesbit resident supports increased money for road and bridge maintenance, but is also focused strongly on building new roads. The 55-year-old Yoste promises to work with lawmakers on funding, saying “everything needs to be on the table.” He said a gas tax is up to lawmakers, and likes a plan to reduce income taxes if gas taxes are raised.
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11:10 p.m.
State Sen. Willie Simmons has won the Democratic nomination for the central district seat on Mississippi’s Transportation Commission. The 72-year-old lawmaker from Cleveland beat Edwards Mayor Marcus Wallace on Tuesday.
Simmons will face Brandon Mayor Butch Lee, the Republican nominee, in November. Current Republican Commissioner Dick Hall of Brandon is retiring.
A longtime senator who has chaired the Transportation Committee, touts the relationships he’s built while in the Legislature, and seeks a 10-cents-a-gallon fuel tax increase over three years to increase road and bridge funding. Simmons says that would give Mississippi a fuel tax rate similar to neighboring states.
10:55 p.m.
Mississippi’s current state treasurer will go to a runoff for the Republican nomination for attorney general.
Lynn Fitch, after two terms as treasurer, won the largest number of votes Tuesday, leading state Rep. Mark Baker and prominent Republican Andy Taggart. But she fell short of a majority, setting up an Aug. 27 runoff. Baker and Taggart are closely bunched for second place late Tuesday.
The Republican nominee will face Democrat Jennifer Riley Collins of Clinton in the Nov. 5 general election. Collins is a lawyer, military veteran and former director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi. She was unopposed for her party’s nomination.
The winner will be Mississippi’s first new attorney general in 16 years. Jim Hood, the only Democrat currently in statewide office, is seeking his party’s nomination for governor on Tuesday.
Fitch touts her experience as a lawyer in state government, saying she wants to fight opioids and human trafficking and protect vulnerable Mississippians.
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10:50 p.m.
State Sen. Michael Watson of Hurley has won the Republican nomination for Mississippi secretary of state. The 41-year-old lawyer beat southern district Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton of Laurel.
Watson will face former Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree in November after DuPree won the Democratic primary on Tuesday. Current Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, is running for lieutenant governor.
Watson pledges to do more to prevent noncitizens from registering to vote and proposes that the secretary of state take over driver’s licensing in an effort to reduce waiting times.
The race between Watson and Britton was one of the most bitter of the primary season. Britton alleged Watson had insufficiently supported President Donald Trump, while Watson said Britton had a history as a Democratic candidate and supporter, didn’t know enough about the office, and benefited from questionable campaign spending.
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10:30 p.m.
Brandon Mayor Butch Lee has won the Republican nomination for the central district seat on Mississippi’s Transportation Commission. The 63-year-old Lee beat Ricky Pennington Jr. of Vicksburg on Tuesday.
In November, Lee will face either state Sen. Willie Simmons or Edwards Mayor Marcus Wallace who were contending for the Democratic nomination Tuesday. Current Republican Commissioner Dick Hall of Brandon is retiring.
Lee says he wants to provide “leadership,” on road and bridge money, saying the money problem isn’t fixed despite up to $80 million a year dedicated to state roads and bridges from an upcoming lottery. Lee advocates earmarking part of a tax on internet sales, saying that would provide $200 million a year. He says he would only support a fuel tax increase paying for long-term items including bridges.
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10:25 p.m.
Investment manager and department store heir David McRae has won the Republican nomination for Mississippi treasurer. The 38-year-old Ridgeland resident beat state Sen. Eugene Buck Clarke on Tuesday in McRae’s second try for the office.
McRae will face Addie Lee Green of Bolton, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, in the Nov. 5 general election. Current Treasurer Lynn Fitch, a Republican, is running for attorney general.
McRae says that treasurer is a good office for him to use his investment experience. He has spent heavily from his own money, loaning his campaign nearly $1.7 million through the end of July.
Among the issues a new treasurer will face is a legacy college savings plan that faces a $127 million shortfall and could run out of money in the next eight years. The treasurer also manages the state’s cash, has a seat on the board of the Public Employees Retirement System and tries to return unclaimed property.
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10: 05 p.m.
Pascagoula Mayor Dane Maxwell has won the Republican nomination for the southern district seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The 55-year-old Maxwell beat Kiln contractor Kelvin Schulz on Tuesday.
Maxwell will face the winner of the Democratic primary, former Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran, in November. Current Commissioner Sam Britton of Laurel sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday.
Maxwell says he believes the commission can help attract additional infrastructure money to Mississippi. He also said he wants the commission to re-establish its emergency center, responding to utility outages after hurricanes and other disasters. Maxwell was President Donald Trump’s state director during the 2016 campaign.
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9:50 p.m.
Former Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran has won the Democratic nomination for the southern district seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The 63-year-old Moran beat Sugar Stallings of Biloxi on Tuesday.
Moran will face either Republican Dane Maxwell or Kelvin Schulz of Kiln in November for a place on the utility regulatory body. Current Commissioner Sam Britton of Laurel sought the Republican nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday.
Moran wants the commission to focus on economic development, expanding access to natural gas, high speed internet and good cellphone coverage.
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9:35 p.m.
Republican Brent Bailey will again be his party’s nominee for the central district seat on the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The 48-year-old Canton resident beat Mississippi Development Authority employee Nic Lott on Tuesday.
Bailey will face the winner of the Democratic primary, a four-way contest that includes Jackson City Councilman De’Keither Stamps and Public Service Commission employee Ryan Brown. Current commissioner Cecil Brown, a Democrat unrelated to Ryan Brown, is retiring.
Bailey, who lost a general election bid to Cecil Brown four years ago, says he wants to improve access to solar energy and strengthen energy efficiency efforts.
Lott argued that as an African American with ties to Republican leaders, he was the party’s best shot to win the majority African American seat in November.
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9:25 p.m.
Former mayor of Hattiesburg Johnny DuPree has won the Democratic nomination for Mississippi secretary of state. The 65-year-old DuPree, who was the unsuccessful 2011 Democratic nominee for governor, beat first-time candidate Maryra Hodges Hunt of Lexington.
In the November general election, DuPree will face the winner of the Republican primary, either state Sen. Michael Watson of Hurley or southern district Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton of Laurel.
Current Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, is running for lieutenant governor.
DuPree says he wants to use the office to increase voter participation by creating a two-week long early voting period where people could cast ballots in person at their local courthouse. On the Democratic side, DuPree wants to create a two-week-long early voting period for those casting ballots in person at their local courthouse. Now, Mississippians can only vote absentee if they state why they can’t vote on election day.
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8:35 p.m.
Three-term Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has won the Republican nomination for Mississippi lieutenant governor. The 72-year-old Jackson lawyer defeated little-known Shane Quick of Lake Cormorant Tuesday in the GOP primary.
Hosemann will face Democratic state Rep. Jay Hughes of Oxford in November as both men seek to ascend to a traditionally powerful office that controls the state Senate. Hughes was unopposed for his party’s nomination. Current Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is running for governor.
Hosesmann is pledging pay raises for teachers, a broad expansion of Mississippi’s preschool program for 4-year-olds, more focus on career training and community college, and improved roads and bridges. He touts his management of the secretary of state’s office, both in cutting expenses as well as in improving technology and service
Quick, a first-time candidate who works in health care, ran a low-budget campaign focused on tea party and libertarian themes.
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7 p.m.
Polls are closing in Mississippi after voters cast ballots in Democratic and Republican primaries for governor and many other offices.
The primaries are narrowing the list of candidates for statewide, regional, legislative and county offices.
In the Republican governor’s primary, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves seeks to fend off opposition from former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. and state Rep. Robert Foster.
In the Democratic primary for governor, Attorney General Jim Hood is challenged by seven candidates, including Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith and retired Jackson State University administrator Velesha P. Williams
Runoffs will be Aug. 27 in races where a candidate doesn’t get a majority Tuesday. Winners advance to the Nov. 5 general election.
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12:19 a.m.
Mississippi Democrats and Republicans are deciding their nominees for governor and many other offices in primary elections Tuesday.
In the Republican governor’s primary, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves seeks to fend off opposition from former state Supreme Court Justice Bill Waller Jr. and state Rep. Robert Foster. Among Democrats, Attorney General Jim Hood is being challenged by seven candidates, including Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith and retired Jackson State University administrator Velesha P. Williams.
Republican voters have contested primaries for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. Democrats will decide a nominee for secretary of state.
Voters will also decide nominees for state legislative and county races.
Runoffs will be Aug. 27 in races where a candidate doesn’t get a majority Tuesday. Winners advance to the Nov. 5 general election.
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