Voters head to the polls Tuesday for Mississippi's primaries. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Polls will be open in Mississippi on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Republican and Democratic primaries for president, a U.S. Senate post and U.S. House seats.

In the Republican primary, Sen. Roger Wicker of Tupelo, who was first elected to office in a 2008, faces two challengers: Ghannon Burton of Tishomingo County and state Rep. Dan Eubanks of DeSoto County.

While Wicker is a heavy favorite to capture another six-year term, it appears he is not taking his reelection for granted. He has been active on the campaign trail, running television and radio advertising since last fall.

Burton, a pilot, retired from the Marine Corps in 2021 with the rank of colonel. He said he retired because of the “wokeness” in the military. On his campaign website, he also cited “the stolen election,” referring to the 2020 presidential election.

Eubanks was elected to the state House in 2015. He has been affiliated with the most conservative wing of the Republican Party in the House.

Former Republican President Donald Trump has endorsed Wicker.

The winner of the Republican Primary will face Democrat Ty Pinkins in November. Pinkins, a civil rights attorney, is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Democratic President Joe Biden also is unopposed in the primary.

On the Republican side, Trump will be on the ballot with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, a vocal conservative and entrepreneur. While all will be on the ballot, DeSantis and Ramaswamy have dropped out and Haley has suspended her campaign.

The only contested race in the Democratic primary is for the 1st District congressional seat where Dianne Dodson Black and Bronco Williams are vying to advance to November and take on Republican incumbent Trent Kelly. The 1st District includes much of north Mississippi.

All four U.S. House posts are up for reelection this year.

In the 2nd, which consists of southwest Mississippi, parts of Jackson and the Delta, longtime Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in November will face the winner of the Republican primary where Ron Eller, Andrew Scott Smith and Taylor Turcotte are on the ballot.

In the 3rd District, which encompasses primarily central Mississippi and a portion of southwest Mississippi, Republican incumbent Michael Guest in unopposed in both his primary and the general election.

And in the 4th District, which consists of much of south Mississippi, incumbent Mike Ezell is being challenged by Carl Boyanton and Michael McGill. Craig Elliott Raybon is running for the unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat.

People with questions about where they vote can contact their local circuit clerk or go to the Mississippi at the My Election Day portal at the Mississippi secretary of state’s website.

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Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today Ideas editor, previously served as Mississippi Today's senior capitol reporter covering politics, government and the Mississippi State Legislature. He writes a weekly column.

A native of Laurel, Bobby joined our team June 2018 after working for the North Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo since 1984. He also worked for his hometown Laurel Leader-Call.

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. He was recognized for two consecutive years as “Advocate of the Year” for the North Mississippi Special Needs Arc.

He is president of the Mississippi Capitol Press Corps Association and works with the Mississippi State University Stennis Institute to arrange luncheons for newsmakers.