(Laurel) The candidates for local, district and statewide offices had to make their decisions to run for office by Friday, March 1. They did, so their attention now turns to wooing voters. Pine Belt residents will be able to vote in the August 6 Primary Election, if they have registered by the July 8 deadline.
The face of the Mississippi’s leadership will change in 2020, as this year’s elections will bring a new lineup of state officials to the Capitol.
Governor Phil Bryant completes his second term in the Governor’s Mansion and several candidates are hoping to step into his shoes. Gubernatorial candidates with the current best name recognition among voters include Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, who leads the list of Republican candidates for the state’s highest office. Other Republicans for the governor’s office include retired State Supreme Court Chief Justice William (Bill) Waller Jr. and State Senator Robert Foster.
Mississippi AG Jim Hood may face his biggest challenge for the Democratic nod for governor from Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith.
In the race for lieutenant governor, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will headline the Republican ticket, while state Rep. J. P. Hughes, Jr. will be running for the office as a Democrat.
Former Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree is running for Secretary of State.
The following candidates have qualified for the upcoming Jones County Primary Election on August 6. The Primary Run-off Election will be held on August 27, and the General Election is set for November 5. Polls are open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on those days.
Two incumbent supervisors, Danny Roy Spradley and Jerome Wyatt, decided to not run this election cycle.
Sheriff
Alex Hodge (R)
Paul Sumrall (R)
Joe Berlin (I)
Macon P. Davis (R)
Chancery Clerk
Wendell B. Gavin, Jr. (R)
Circuit Clerk
Concetta Brooks (R)
Colenia Ross (I)
Tax Assessor/
Collector
Tina Byrd Gatlin (R)
Michael Walker (R)
County Attorney
Brad R. Thompson (R)
County Surveyor
Harvey Saul (I)
Coroner
Burl Hall (R)
Nancy Barnett (R)
Pyllis Pitts (R)
Zach Rowell (R)
Supervisor Beat 1
Johnny A. Burnett (R)
Richard Baker (R)
Harlon Matthews (R)
Toby Herrington (R)
Barry Dunagin (R)
Bobby Brady Jr. (I)
Don M. Williams (R)
Supervisor Beat 2
Chad Boykin (R)
T. Larry Dykes (R)
Michael Phillips (R)
Mike A. Bush (R)
Ronnie Herrington (I)
Richy H. Seals (R)
Mike Strickland (R)
Gary D. Blackledge (D)
Supervisor Beat 3
Phil Dickerson (R)
Barry E. Saul (R)
Randy Norwood (R)
Jessie Jones Maxey (R)
Johnny Wright (R)
Donald D. Holifield (I)
Supervisor Beat 4
David Scruggs (R)
Michael James (I)
Bobby D. Barber (I)
Andy Dial (R)
Supervisor Beat 5
Tavares Comegys (D)
Chris Holifield (I)
George Carmichael (D)
George Clark (R)
Trey W. Chinn (D)
Justice Court Judge District 1
Noel Rogers (R)
C. Grant Hedgepeth (R)
Glen Musgrove (R)
Sonny Saul (R)
Larry Blakeney (I)
Marian A. Allen (D)
Justice Court Judge District 2
Billie J. Graham (R)
Justice Court Judge District 3
Stacy Walls (R)
David Lyons (R)
Andre DeShawn Cooley (R)
Constable District 1
Mike Sumrall (R)
Bill Smith (R)
Constable District 2
Danny Gibson (R)
Larry Strickland (R)
Le’Byron O’Keith Jackson (D)
Constable District 3
David Livingston (R)
Mike Sims (R)