These are the biggest surprises, upsets and nail biters in the MS Coast primary election

Mary Perez
·2 min read

The 2023 Mississippi primary election had its share of drama and upsets as Tuesday night’s vote was counted.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest surprises and upsets on the Coast in various local and statewide races.

Harrison County sheriff’s race close

The race for Harrison County Sheriff was so close, just 12 votes separated Matt Haley and Louis Elias with about half the vote counted. It took until the last 10 precincts reported to show Haley held on and won by 1,520 votes.

Matt Haley, a candidate for Harrison County sheriff, answers questions during a recent candidate debate in Biloxi.
Matt Haley, a candidate for Harrison County sheriff, answers questions during a recent candidate debate in Biloxi.
Louis Elias, a candidate for Harrison County Sheriff, speaks during an election forum at Orange Grove Community Center in Gulfport on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Louis Elias, a candidate for Harrison County Sheriff, speaks during an election forum at Orange Grove Community Center in Gulfport on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Hancock County chancery clerk runoff

Hancock County’s nail biter turned out to be the four-way race for chancery clerk. Kodie Koennen and Tiffany Lee Cowman will be in another showdown in the Aug. 29 runoff election after Cowman had big support from the voters in Diamondhead, where Koennen was a city councilman before being elected a Hancock County supervisor. Cowan had 41% of the vote to 31% for Koennen, and a strong turnout for either candidate will decide the successor to Tim Kellar, who is retiring after 28 years.

Tiffany Lee Cowman, a candidate for chancery clerk in Hancock County, speaks during an election forum in Waveland on Monday, July 10, 2023.
Tiffany Lee Cowman, a candidate for chancery clerk in Hancock County, speaks during an election forum in Waveland on Monday, July 10, 2023.
Kodie Koenenn, a candidate for chancery clerk in Hancock County, speaks during an election forum in Waveland on Monday, July 10, 2023.
Kodie Koenenn, a candidate for chancery clerk in Hancock County, speaks during an election forum in Waveland on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Jackson County supervisor races

The surprises in Jackson County were in the supervisor races. Ennit Morris will be in a runoff in District 2 after Felix ‘FeFe’ Fornett and Mitch Ellerby split the vote but had a combined 52% of the vote. Morris will face Fornett in the runoff.

Supervisor Randy Bosarge held on to hold off Glenn Lumpkin in District 5.

Biggest upsets seen in statewide races

Three of the biggest upsets were:

▪ Dane Maxwell, former Pascagoula mayor and the chairman of the state’s Public Service Commission, lost his race to Nelson Wayne Carr. There is no Democrat running for the seat, so Carr will become the new southern commissioner.

▪ State Sen. Philip Moran was upset by Philman Ladner, who took both Harrison and Hancock County.

▪ Dan Cuevas and Supervisor Beverly Martin went back and forth with the lead as the votes came in, with Cuevas pulling off the upset.

▪ Rep. Doug McLeod lost to Ronald Lott in House District 107 race in George County. He was elected in 2012.

Harrison County voters will need to go back to the polls Aug. 29 to determine if Zachary Grady or Felix Gines will be the winner in the House District 115 race.

Dan Cuevas, a candidate for District Supervisor 1 in Harrison County, waves to voters arriving at a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Dan Cuevas, a candidate for District Supervisor 1 in Harrison County, waves to voters arriving at a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Beverly Martin, a candidate for District Supervisor 1 in Harrison County, and her supporters sit outside a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Beverly Martin, a candidate for District Supervisor 1 in Harrison County, and her supporters sit outside a polling location at D’Iberville Civic Center in D’Iberville during the Mississippi Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

Chris McDaniel speaks in Biloxi

Chris McDaniel, a Republican from Jones County, had his watch party event in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor at the Biloxi Visitors Center.

The latest race to be called in the primary, incumbent Delbert Hosemann won the primary, securing his spot in the November general election.

At his watch party on the Coast, McDaniel said it was challenging to be a conservative sometimes and criticized the GOP for “sliding to left” in Jackson.

Chris McDaniel speaks to the media and his supporters as his race for Lieutenant Governor looks uncertain at Biloxi Visitors Center in Biloxi on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
Chris McDaniel speaks to the media and his supporters as his race for Lieutenant Governor looks uncertain at Biloxi Visitors Center in Biloxi on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.