Republican incumbents down-ticket from governor cruise to reelection

Mississippi’s seven statewide offices down-ticket from governor were contested Tuesday night, but all seven incumbent Republicans easily won reelection.

Republicans also easily held legislative majorities in the House and Senate. Although they challenged for numerous seats, even if Democrats had run the tables with all their legislative candidates Tuesday, the GOP would still have held majorities. Democrats did not field enough candidates to overtake the Republicans’ large majorities in either chamber.

The best Democrats could hope for was to win enough seats to erase the Republicans two-thirds super majorities in each chamber. It was not clear Tuesday night whether Democrats were succeThe Associated Press called the races for all statewide offices except governor early Tuesday night.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, seeking a second and final term, easily defeated challenger D. Ryan Grover. With partial results in Tuesday night, Hosemann had won with 66% of the vote to Grover’s 34%. Hosemann had a difficult primary this summer, fending off a challenge by Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel, but little-known Grover was not considered a serious challenger in the general election.

Incumbent Republican Lynn Fitch defeated Democratic challenger Greta Kemp Martin with 64% of the vote to 36% in incomplete results. Fitch previously served two terms as state treasurer. Martin had made access to reproductive rights a main plank of her campaign platform, after Fitch’s office helped overturn Roe v. Wade abortion rights with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a Mississippi lawsuit.

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson defeated Democratic challenger Ty Pinkins with 65% of the vote to 35% in incomplete results.

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Shad White defeated Democratic challenger Larry Bradford with 64% of the vote to 36% with incomplete totals. White was first appointed to the auditor’s post in 2018 by then-Gov. Phil Bryant to fill the unexpired term of Stacey Pickering. White was reelected to his first full term with no opposition in 2019.

Incumbent Republican Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney was reelected to a fifth term Tuesday nigh, defeating Democratic challenger Bruce Burton with 65% of the vote to 35% with incomplete results.

Incumbent Republican Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson defeated Democratic challenger Robert Bradford with 63% of the vote to 37% in incomplete results. Gipson was appointed to the post in 2018 by Bryant to fill out the unexpired term of now U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, then Gipson won election to a full term that began in 2020.

Incumbent Republican Treasurer David McRae defeated Democratic challenger Addie Lee Green with 64% of the vote to 36% in incomplete results. McRae had defeated Green in 2019 to win his first term as treasurer.ssful in that effort.