by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
GULFPORT (GG) — After three hours of tallying votes, the Gulfport Ward 2 seat was won by Bryan Caldwell in the special election runoff Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Dating all the way back to April 28 when qualifying began, Caldwell and opponent Ron Ruland, Jr. advanced to a runoff after the previous election of June 9 where no one received 50% of the vote out of four candidates.
Despite the results being unofficial, there are only 6 mail-in ballots left to be counted to certify the face. With the completion of two precinct boxes, 63 absentee ballots, and nine affidavits approved, Bryan Caldwell received 713 votes or 53.2% over opponent Ron Ruland Jr. with 626 votes cast or 46.7%.
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled by today’s results,” said Caldwell, who is a native that served nearly three decades for the Gulfport School District. “I plan to hit the ground running and look forward to serving the citizens of Ward 2.”
Back on April 23, previous Ward 2 Alderman Ron Roland resigned from the Gulfport City Council due to a serious head injury. Roland suffered this in July 2025 before he submitted a letter to Mayor Hugh Keating and Council President Rusty Walker.
Once the city determined a special election following a meeting, qualifying began on April 28 until May 20, which set the election date to June 9.
“Unfortunately, the results were close, but it was not the outcome we had hoped for,” said Ruland on his social media post. “I want to thank all of my supporters, volunteers, and my wife for their incredible support in this effort.”
No relation between Ruland, Jr. and the previous councilman.
The official results will be updated when the five mail-in ballots are totaled.
