by Frank Corder, Magnolia Tribune
Congressmen Trent Kelly, Bennie Thompson, Michael Guest and Mike Ezell
As expected, all four Mississippi incumbent Congressmen, three of which are Republicans, won their re-election bids Tuesday night despite a blue wave that swept across the U.S.
In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Congressman Trent Kelly defeated Democrat nominee Cliff Johnson, an Ole Miss law professor, and Libertarian Johnny Baucom, a health and safety technician.
Kelly was endorsed by President Donald Trump (R), as was his fellow Mississippi Republican Congressmen.
Johnson, on the other hand, shared pictures on social media of fundraising events and campaign stops from Mississippi to Martha’s Vineyard with high profile national Democrats. He was seen hobnobbing with Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin (D), New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D), and Texas U.S. Senate Candidate James Talarico (D) as well as Mississippi 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) and U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom (D).
Kelly was declared the winner at 9:20 p.m. with 65% of precincts reporting showing him leading with 64% of the vote to Johnson’s 35%.
Congressman Thompson cruised to re-election in the 2nd Congressional District, easily defeating Republican nominee Ron Eller and independent Bennie Foster.
Eller is a physician assistant who previously ran for the seat in 2022 while Foster is a Jackson-based businessman who is a newcomer to seeking political office.
Thompson earned national attention by chairing former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s House Select Committee that investigated the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, while establishing himself as a vocal critic of President Trump.
The 2nd District race was called at 8:55 p.m. with 37% of precincts reporting showing Thompson leading with 63%.
In the 3rd Congressional District, Congressman Michael Guest was declared the winner at 9:25 p.m. over Democrat nominee Michael Chiaradio and Libertarian Erike Kiehle.
Chiaradio is a former independent professional baseball league player turned regenerative farmer, and Kiehle is a businessman.
Chiaradio attempted to ride the coattails of Democrat Senate candidate Colom but it was not enough to push him over Guest.
The race was called with 70% of precincts reporting showing Guest with 59% of the vote.
Down in South Mississippi, Congressman Mike Ezell handily defeated State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum III of Gulfport and perennial candidate Carl Boyanton, a businessman.
The 4th Congressional District race was called at 8:56 p.m. with 62% of precincts reporting showing Ezell with 57% of the vote.
Ezell is the former Sheriff of Jackson County.