Voters in Marion County and across the state will head to the polls Tuesday to vote in the congressional primary, although the hotly contested races won’t be on the ballot until November.
Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan said her office has been open for absentee voting and that she’ll have special hours from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the courthouse.
Polls will then be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The June 5 primary has two races on it, a U.S. Senate seat and the 4th Congressional District. Incumbents are expected to be safe, and turnout is anticipated to be low statewide.
On the Republican ballot, incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker is challenged by Richard Warren Boyanton, the owner of a fence company in Diamondhead. In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo is opposed by E. Brian Rose, a software developer from Ocean Springs.
The Democratic ballot for the Senate seat is crowded:
State Rep. David Baria, a lawyer from Pascagoula;
Jensen Bohren of the Benton community in Yazoo County, who described his work experience in a questionnaire submitted to the Jackson Free Press as “very numerous. Mostly nonprofession retail jobs or menial labor of various degrees;”
Jerone Garland, a chemist from Kosciusko;
Victor G. Maurice Jr., owner of a landscape design firm from Pass Christian;
State Rep. Omeria Scott, a longtime legislator from Laurel; and
Howard Sherman, an actor and husband of Mississippi native and actress Sela Ward.
In the House race, State Rep. Jeramey Anderson, the youngest member of the state legislature at 25 who is from Moss Point, is the lone candidate.
“The only election with a possible runoff would be the Democratic Senate race,” Nolan said. “If a runoff was needed, it would be held June 26.”
The hotly contested special election for the seat U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran vacated when he retired recently won’t be on the ballot until the general election on Nov. 6.
Also, Nolan said qualifying is open until Sept. 7 for a special election for county attorney. The seat was held by the late Scott Phillips.
