Four Tuesday special elections for the Mississippi Legislature to fill vacancies appear headed to October 13 runoffs, according to unofficial and incomplete results from Tuesday’s voting.

The nonpartisan special elections held Tuesday were:

House District 37

Former Lowndes County Schools Superintendent Lynn Wright and business owner David Chism appeared headed to a runoff, in a three-person race to replace longtime Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus (cousin of David Chism).

The district includes parts of Clay, Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties.

House District 66

Jackson City Councilman De’Keither A. Stamps and former teacher Robert C. “Bob” Lee Jr. appear to be headed to a runoff. The two led others in a six-person race to replace Rep. Jarvis Dortch, D-Raymond, who resigned to become director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi.

The district is in Hinds County.

Senate District 15

Businessman Bart Williams and educator Joyce Meek Yates appear headed to a runoff after the two led polling in a four-person race to replace longtime Sen. Gary Jackson, R-French Camp, who resigned in June for health reasons.

The district includes parts of Choctaw, Oktibbeha and Webster counties.

Senate District 39

Attorney Jason Barrett and bank chairman Bill Sones appeared set for a runoff after the two led in a crowded field of nine candidates Tuesday night. The race is to replace longtime Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, who resigned in July to take a position as the director of the state Public Utilities Staff.

The district includes parts of Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln and Walthall counties.


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Geoff Pender serves as senior political reporter, working closely with Mississippi Today leadership on editorial strategy and investigations. Pender brings 30 years of political and government reporting experience to Mississippi Today. He was political and investigative editor at the Clarion Ledger, where he also penned a popular political column. He previously served as an investigative reporter and political editor at the Sun Herald, where he was a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for Hurricane Katrina coverage. Originally from Florence, Mississippi, Pender is a journalism graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and has received numerous awards throughout his career for reporting, columns and freedom of information efforts.