Voter turnout was 10% Tuesday in Calhoun County with Sen. Roger Wicker advancing in the U.S. Senate Republican Primary and a runoff secured on the Democratic side.
The June 26 runoff will feature Howard Sherman, the husband of TV star Sela Ward of Meridian, and David Baria, a state representative from Bay St. Louis. They both carried Calhoun County with Sherman finishing on top with 105 votes. Baria was second at 55, Omeria Scott tied Baria at 55 votes, Jerone Garland 9, Jensen Bohren 8, and Victor Maurice Jr. 7. Sherman and Baria each garnered over 31% of the vote statewide to advance to the runoff.
Sen. Wicker's race against Warren Boyanton was called early in the night. Wicker carried Calhoun with a vote tally of 653-88. Wicker will face the Baria-Sherman winner in the November general election.
In another race with Calhoun connections, Madison and Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest advanced to a runoff against Whit Hughes in the GOP primary for Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District, based on incomplete, unofficial results.
In a crowded field of six Republican candidates and relatively low voter turnout, Guest was leading with 45 percent and Hughes second with 21 percent with 93 percent of precincts reporting from the 24-county district. Guest is the son of Calhoun City native George “Pat” Guest and Bruce native Terry Williams Guest.