Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann wins heated GOP primary as statewide candidates square off

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG and EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has defeated state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the state’s bitter Republican primary for lieutenant governor. The results are the culmination of a contest that divided conservatives and turned increasingly nasty in its final weeks. Hosemann is seeking a second term as lieutenant governor after serving three terms as secretary of state. McDaniel’s loss Tuesday was his third unsuccessful campaign for higher office after two failed bids for U.S. Senate in the past decade. Democrats have a three-person primary in the agriculture commissioner’s race that was too early to call Tuesday. Incumbent Andy Gipson is unopposed for that Republican nomination. If primary runoffs are needed, they will be Aug. 29. The general election is Nov. 7, with runoffs Nov. 28.