Here are the 2023 primary runoff election results in Mississippi Coast races

Sun Herald Staff
·2 min read

Just five races remained to be decided in Tuesday’s runoff election in South Mississippi.

Voter turnout traditionally is slim in runoff races and heavy rain in the afternoon may have kept some voters away.

The turnout was just 8.85% of eligible voters in Harrison County to decide who would be elected to the state House of Representatives.

Here’s a look at the unofficial vote totals for each South Mississippi race.

Harrison County

In a hard-fought race, Zachary Grady won the election to become the next state representative in District 115, covering parts of Biloxi and D’Iberville.

Grady, a former D’Iberville police officer, won with 61% of the vote over Biloxi Councilman Felix Gines.

Grady finished with 718 votes to Gines with 443.

With no opposition in November Grady will be sworn into the office in January.

Felix Gines, a candidate for state house representative, waves to a motorist outside a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Felix Gines, a candidate for state house representative, waves to a motorist outside a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Zach Grady, a candidate for state representative, and his family and supporters wave to passerby outside a polling location at Dr. Frank Gruich Sr. Community Center in Biloxi during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Zach Grady, a candidate for state representative, and his family and supporters wave to passerby outside a polling location at Dr. Frank Gruich Sr. Community Center in Biloxi during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

Hancock County

Chancery Clerk

It was expected to be a close race and as the votes came in, it was neck and neck all night to elect a new chancery clerk in Hancock County.

When the final votes were in, the contest went to Tiffany Lee Cowman, a school teacher, over Hancock County Supervisor Kodie Koenenn.

Cowman had 4,035 votes — or 54% of the vote — to Koenenn’s 3,452 votes.

Cowman also led the vote after the primary election in a field of four candidates, with 41% of the vote.

She now will face Democrat Henry Ward in November’s general election.

Kodie Koenenn, left, and Tiffany Cowman, right, Republican candidates for Hancock County chancery clerk
Kodie Koenenn, left, and Tiffany Cowman, right, Republican candidates for Hancock County chancery clerk

Supervisor District 1

Donald Wayne Graham, who led by about 55 votes after the primary, pulled off the win in Tuesday’s runoff with 55% of the vote. Graham had 667 votes to 545 votes for Christopher “Packer” Ladner.

Graham faces Democrat Cody Shiyou in November

Supervisor District 2

Incumbent Greg Shaw was up by about 150 votes over challenger Byron Ladner after the primary and took 54% of the vote to win the Republican nomination for District 2 Supervisor in Hancock County. Shaw had 787 votes and Ladner 545.

Shaw faces Libertarian candidate Timothy Stinson Jr. in November.

Jackson County

The only race in Jackson County was on the Democrat ticket for District 2 Supervisor.

Incumbent Ennis Morris won another term, taking 65% of the vote. Morris had 856 votes to Fornett’s 454.

Morris nearly won in the primary with 47% of the vote, but his two challengers split the vote. Fornett got into the runoff with 28% of the primary vote and Mitch Ellerby had 24%.

Morris has no challenger in the general election.