Gazebo Gazette
Unofficially with 85% of the precincts in Mississippi counted, Attorney General Jim Hood wins the Democratic nomination for the Governor of the state. With over 70% of the votes in his favor, the four term Attorney General rolls over party opponents by 150,000 ballots cast. There has not been a Democratic Governor selected by popular vote since 1987 when Ray Mabus won.
On the other side, the Republican (GOP) party nomination for governor appears to be headed to a run-off. The front-runner Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves leads with over 151,000 votes or 48%. Former Mississippi State Supreme Court Justice William Waller brought in slightly over 100,000 votes or 34%.
The GOP dark-horse that picked up traction in the last few weeks was Mississippi State Representative Robert Foster, who sit just shy of 60,000 or 18% votes.
In other statewide races, Mississippi Gulf Coast State Senator Michael Watson secured the nomination over former Public Service Commissioner Sam Britton in the Republican primary. Recently, Britton sent mailouts and television commercials attacking Watson on several political stances.
Finally, former State Treasurer Lynn Fitch solidified a runoff position for the Attorney General GOP nomination with 135,000 votes. Facing off with Fitch appears to be political veteran Andy Taggart with just over 87,000 votes.
