One Revote Coming While Another Makes Their Case

According to the Clarion-Ledger, about 225 voters in the Dry Grove A precinct in Hinds county will cast new ballots on October 18 for the HD 73 race. Gay Polk, who lost to Brad Oberhousen in the Democratic primary by 90 votes, successfully won her challenge against the Hinds County Democratic Executive Committee who had certified Oberhousen the winner.

As we noted previously, split precincts were the issue here- again. Some voters got the incorrect ballot. Dry Grove A is in HD 73 while Dry Grove B is in HD 63. The 225 people who signed the poll book on August 2 in Dry Grove A will be allowed to vote. The belief is that Polk needs 112 votes to win. Oberhousen’s attorney said they may appeal, but that he will continue to campaign for now.

Rep. Jim Ellington awaits the winner is what will likely be a very tight general election battle.

Another challenge is taking place for the open SD 8 race which covers all of Chickasaw and portions of Calhoun, Grenada, and Lee counties. This is the seat previously held by the late Sen. Jack Gordon who passed away in the spring.

Marshall Coleman, who finished second to Russell Jolly in the Democratic primary, said that their were various voting irregularities in two counties that could have put him in a runoff. Jolly led the three-man field with 6,112 votes- the clear leader. Coleman finished second with 3,390 votes and Sherman Carouthers received 2,678 votes. Added up, Coleman and Carouthers received 6,068 votes giving Jolly just enough to proceed without a runoff.

Patsy Gregory was the GOP primary winner.