by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
HARRISON COUNTY (GG) — While their was a low, distant turnout (12.7%) in Harrison County for the 2026 Congressional Midterm Primary Elections, both incumbents rolled for the Republican (GOP) ticket. With an unofficial report Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Harrison County Circuit Clerk’s Office provided a vote tally of all 49 precincts in the county, showing 11,426 ballots were cast in the Republican primary and 6,441 were recorded in the Democrat primary.
The Fourth Congressional District, which is held by incumbent Mike Ezell (R-Pascagoula), easily won Harrison County with 9148 (84.1%) votes over challenger Sawyer Walters who finished with 2240 (15.9%) in the county ballots. After 93% of the entire congressional district, Ezell retained the nomination of the GOP with 39,350 votes (84.1%) compared to Walters with 7443 (15.9%) unofficial votes.
Seeking the Democratic nomination, District 119 State House Representative Jeffrey Hulum III (D-Gulfport) beat two challengers with 10,929 (57.6%) unofficial votes cast with 92% of the precincts reported. Navy veteran Paul Blackman and D. Ryan Grover combined for 8031 votes for the nomination. In Harrison County, Hulum received 4881 (75.7%) over 1545 challenger votes.
The United States Senate junior seat, which is held by incumbent Cindy Hyde Smith (R-Brookhaven), also won Harrison County and the statewide nomination convincingly with 126,536 (80.8%) unofficial statewide votes cast compared to challenger Sarah Adlakha from Ocean Springs who received 30,034 (19.2%) ballots cast after 95% of the precincts. In Harrison County, Hyde-Smith easily won with 8424 (73.6%) over the challenger Adlakha who finished with 2982 (26%) unofficial votes cast on all 49 precincts.
For the Democratic Party, District Attorney Scott Colom received the nomination after receiving 106,750 (73%) unofficial statewide votes cast with 93% of the precincts reported. Two other challengers, Priscilla Till and Albert Littell only pulled out 39,487 combined votes for Colom to grab the nomination. Colom won Harrison County with 3938 (61.8%) compated to Till’s 1793 (28.1) and Littell’s 618 (9.7%) unofficial votes cast.
“The people of Mississippi made their voices heard, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. Mississippians saw my opponent for who she is and said, ‘Bless her heart,’ at the ballot box,” Senator Hyde-Smith said in a statement.
“I’ve traveled all over this state, listening to farmers who can’t sell their crops, mothers deciding between paying their utility bill or buying groceries, and workers who are terrified of losing their health care. These folks matter, they’re why I’m running, and they’re why we’re going to win,” Democratic nominee Colom said in a statement. “Cindy Hyde-Smith has had the seat, the platform, and the power to act for Mississippi families — but she’s been too busy serving herself and her big-money donors. That ends in November.”
“South Mississippi’s confidence in me mean more than words can fully express,” stated Fourth Congressional Democratic nominee and State Representative Hulum III. “No vote will ever be taken for granted, and no community will ever be overlooked.”
The Harrison County Circuit Clerk has until Friday, March 20 to report the official results to the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
(The Gazebo Gazette photos)
