David Gore has advanced to the general election in his bid to become Webster County’s next sheriff.
He received the most votes in the Democratic primary runoff election on Aug. 27 against Casey Henderson. Gore collected 56% of the vote, defeating Henderson 1,453 votes to 1,124, according to unofficial final results with affidavits.
Gore, of Hohenlinden, carried 11 of the county’s 17 precincts. Henderson, of Walthall, received the majority of votes in the Bellefontaine, Cadaretta, Eupora No. 1, Eupora No. 2, Fay and Walthall precincts. Two affidavit ballot votes were uncounted as of Friday for lack of a photo ID. The election summary report indicates two write-in votes were cast.
Gore also led a three-man field in the first primary on Aug. 6 with about 38% of the vote. The retired game warden has two opponents in the Nov. 5 general election: Republican nominee Jeffrey Mann and independent candidate Calvin “Brad” Robinson. Andy McCants is now serving as Webster County’s appointed sheriff.
Republican Runoffs
Three runoffs in open races were on the Republican ballot. Two-term Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves won the Republican nomination for governor with 54% of the vote statewide and 64% in Webster County. His opponent was former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr.
Reeves, 45, advances to the general election to face Democratic nominee and Attorney General Jim Hood, Constitution Party candidate Bob Hickingbottom and independent candidate David R. Singletary
Two-term state Treasurer Lynn Fitch was the victor in the runoff for attorney general. She received about 52% of the vote statewide and carried Webster County with 58%. Her opponent was attorney Andy Taggart of Madison, a former Madison County supervisor and chief of staff to Gov. Kirk Fordice.
Fitch, 57, of Ridgeland, will face Democrat Jennifer Riley-Collins of Clinton in the general election. She is a military veteran and former director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi.
John Caldwell, 58, of Nesbit beat Oxford defense consultant Geoffrey Yoste in the runoff for Northern District transportation commissioner. Caldwell, a former DeSoto County supervisor, had made two previous bids for the office. He received 56% of the vote districtwide and 53% in Webster County.
Democrat Joey Grist of Tupelo, a former state lawmaker who was unopposed for his party’s nomination, will face Caldwell in November. Incumbent Republican Mike Tagert isn’t running again.
The voter turnout in the runoff election was 46% of the county’s 7,232 registered voters, down 10% from the first primary. The runoff saw 2,579 voters casting Democratic ballots and 766 casting Republican ballots.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
