Lynn Fitch is outspending Andy Taggart during the final days before the runoff for the Republican nomination for the open seat of attorney general, based on campaign finance reports filed with the secretary of state’s office.

The two Madison County residents are vying to replace Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood who is seeking the open governor’s seat.

For the period from July 28 through Aug. 17, Fitch spent $339,901 on campaign-related activities. Taggart spent $108,086.

For the year, Fitch has spent $898,743 and Taggart has spent $499,563. Fitch has raised $691,738 for the year and has cash on hand of $71,986. Taggart has garnered $629,205 in campaign contributions and has $129,668 in cash on hand.

Fitch, a two-term state treasurer, entered the election year with a campaign contributions from her tenure as treasurer. Taggart was in private law practice before opting this year to run for AG. He is a former Madison County supervisor and previously served as chief of staff in the 1990s for Gov. Kirk Fordice.

Both candidates were continuing to file reports of individual contributions during the final days before the election.

There will be various runoffs elections on the Aug. 27 ballot.

In the Central District, Jackson City Council member De’Keither Stamps and Dorothy “Dot” Benford of Jackson will be in the Democratic Party runoff for the open Public Service Commission post.

John Caldwell of DeSoto County and Geoffrey Yoste of Lafayette County are running in the Republican primary runoff for the open seat of transportation commissioner for the Northern District.

In addition, on the Republican ballot will be five state Senate runoffs and six House elections. On the Democratic ballot will be four Senate runoffs and two House runoffs.

Voter Guide 2019

The top two vote-getters advance to the runoff if no candidate garnered a majority vote in the Aug. 6 primary.

People who voted in one party’s primary on Aug. 6 can only vote Tuesday in that same party’s runoff. But people who did not vote on Aug. 6 can vote in the runoff of their choice Tuesday.

Of course, the most talked about runoff on Tuesday’s ballot will be the Republican contest for governor between Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr.

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Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today’s senior capitol reporter, covers politics, government and the Mississippi State Legislature. He also writes a weekly news analysis which is co-published in newspapers statewide. A native of Laurel, Bobby joined our team June 2018 after working for the North Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo since 1984. He is president of the Mississippi Capitol Press Corps Association and works with the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute to organize press luncheons. Bobby has a bachelor's in American Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi and has received multiple awards from the Mississippi Press Association, including the Bill Minor Best Investigative/In-depth Reporting and Best Commentary Column.