Two Oktibbeha County democratic races look to be heading to runoffs after Tuesday’s primary elections.
Both of the races are in the heavily-contested Oktibbeha County Justice Court. For the District 2 seat, Larnzy Carpenter will face incumbent Bernard Crump, and Marty Haug will take on Cheikh Taylor for the District 3 seat.
Primary runoffs are scheduled for Aug. 25.
County officials still have to count 162 affidavit ballots — 51 for Republican races and 111 for Democratic races. Additional ballots, including those from voters who need to present proper photo ID, also remain to be counted to finalize the results.
Tuesday’s results likely mark the end of Jim Mill’s tenure as the District 3 judge after he came in third with 181 votes (23.81 percent). He was first appointed to the seat in 1973, and has been re-elected four times since.
Taylor led the District 3 field with 239 votes (31.61 percent). Haug received 200 votes (26.46 percent). Will Hutchinson received 130 (17.20 percent).
Taylor said he appreciated Tuesday’s win, but is keeping an eye to the work ahead for the runoff.
“I’m very happy about the win but it is short lived,” he said. “I have a great group of supporters and a great group of candidates is running in the race. By no means is this a time to beat on my chest. It’s time to go back to work.”
Haug is also looking toward the Aug. 25 runoff, and credited his opponents for running a clean campaign.
“It was a very close election,” Haug said. “Everyone did well. All four of us, I feel, ran good, clean campaigns. There were a lot of good candidates and I’m thankful to be in the final with Cheikh Taylor. He’s a good candidate and we’ll see who can get the votes out.”
The winner of the District 3 Democratic primary will face Buddy Johnston, who moved through Tuesday’s Republican primary unopposed.
Carpenter led voting for the District 2 seat, pulling in 731 votes (42.45 percent). Crump received 579 votes (33.62 percent). Kennedy Neal, who was eliminated from the race with Tuesday’s results, received 410 votes (23.81 percent).
A candidate has to receive 50 percent plus one vote to win an election or the race moves to a run off.
“I’m pleased with what has transpired so far, and I’m of course hoping to win in the runoff,” Carpenter said. “I’m just grateful for all the voters in this county, the city of Starkville and Mississippi State University. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Dispatch could not reach Crump for comment by press time.
Incumbent Tony Boykin reached an easy victory in the District 1 Democratic primary, pulling in more than 57 percent of the vote, with 598 total votes. Challengers Lynn Williams and Jessi Collier received 321 and 110 votes, respectively.
Rob Roberson defeated Mac Smith in the Republican race for the newly-created Mississippi House of Representatives District 43. Roberson received 66 percent of the vote with 1,500 total, while Smith got 745 votes (33 percent).
“I want to thank my supporters in Oktibbeha and Winston counties,” Roberson said. “I humbly accept the Republican nomination for the District 43 race. I thank my opponent, Mac Smith, for running an honorable and clean campaign. He’s truly one of the finest men I’ve ever run against. I look forward to an issues-oriented campaign going into November.”
Republican Tim Cook and Democrat James Lindsey had no opponent for their respective primaries for the District 3 constable position.
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