Despite a small turnout of supporters in Olive Branch on Wednesday, Democratic nominee Brandon Presley thinks DeSoto County could be key in his run for governor.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has defeated state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the state’s bitter Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Other statewide candidates also faced off Tuesday night.

DeSoto County voters elected two top officials Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the Republican primaries for DeSoto County sheriff and district attorney for the 23rd Circuit Court District.

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Gov. Tate Reeves will face Brandon Presley in November’s election

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann wins heated GOP primary

Reeves defeated two first-time candidates: John Witcher, a physician who has criticized COVID-19 vaccinations, and David Hardigree, a military veteran. Presley, a cousin of rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, ran unopposed.

Polls in DeSoto County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for voters to cast their ballots in the state’s primary elections.

Mayoral contender J.W. Gibson talked about the size of the field as he opened his campaign headquarters Saturday, Aug. 5, in southeast Memphis. The issue could come to a head at the People’s Convention.

Pearson easily beat independent candidate Jeff Johnston in the second special general election this year for the seat covering the western edge of Shelby County.

Voters on the western edge of Shelby County go to the polls Thursday, Aug. 3, to elect their state representative for the fourth time this year.

Watch The Daily Memphian and WKNO’s Memphis mayoral debate from Tuesday, Aug. 15, here.

Colvett pulled out of what is now an 18-candidate race at Thursday’s deadline for candidates to withdraw from the October Memphis ballot.

A federal judge blocks a new Mississippi law that would set criminal penalties for some people who help others with absentee voting. The ruling comes as absentee ballots are already available for next month’s party primaries for governor and other state offices.

Eight candidates were invited to the debate, which will be broadcast on WKNO/Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and livestreamed on both wkno.org and on The Daily Memphian. 

The unions that represent Memphis police officers and firefighters handed Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. a key endorsement Tuesday. 

Floyd Bonner responded to the protesters outside his headquarters and talked about changing state law if necessary to curb youth violence. Meanwhile, everyone’s talking about the field of 19 in the mayor’s race and its impact on who wins.

Two council incumbents were effectively re-elected at the Thursday, July 20, deadline because they had no opposition. Two other council races drew fields of seven candidates.

As council contenders weigh their options, several races are filling up. Meanwhile, two former council members have filed their petitions to get back on the body and a third is considering it.

Democratic state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who was expelled from the General Assembly but re-appointed by the County Commission, faces independent candidate Jeff Johnston for the House seat. 

White finished second to Steve Mulroy in the May 2022 Democratic primary for Shelby County District Attorney General. Meanwhile, the official field for Memphis mayor stands at eight ahead of the July 20 qualifying deadline.

The Political Roundup looks at campaigning in the summer heat, the most active council races and a growing field of possible contenders for Memphis mayor.

The candidates in the crowded Memphis mayoral race should not forget broadcast media, according to one political consultant.

Both prospects for the new DeSoto County sheriff have history and law enforcement and agree the biggest public safety issue facing the county is crime from Memphis and surrounding Mississippi counties.

Welcome back to On The Ballot, where we have five quick topics today, including a hot one for this hot week: Memphis Light, Gas and Water.

Absentee voting for the August primary begins Monday in Mississippi.

In the low-turnout contest, Justin J. Pearson got better than 94% of the vote across 19 precincts, compared to 5% for challenger David Page.

Former Shelby County Commissioner Sidney Chism’s annual summer political picnic returned June 10. It was also the last day of early voting for the special primary elections in state House District 86. And Martin Luther King III came through Memphis last week in a summer bus tour across the country.