Voters to cast ballots in party primaries today

Primary Election day is here, and as residents of Oktibbeha County head to the polls to cast their ballot in this year's countywide races, there will be many candidates to consider.

DISTRICT 38 STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Democratic incumbent state Rep. Cheikh Taylor will be challenged Tuesday by fellow Democrat Lisa Wynn. Tuesday's primary will be a rematch of the 2017 special non-partisan election. That race saw Taylor defeat Wynn and another challenger without going to a run off.

The 2017 race was held to fill the unexpired term of longtime state Rep. Tyrone Ellis, who retired earlier that year.

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY SHERIFF

Incumbent Steve Gladney is looking to extend his seven-year career as sheriff this August as two challengers have emerged.

Democrats John Rice and Brandon Gann have campaigned through the summer in an attempt to keep Gladney from securing a third consecutive term.

No Republicans have qualified for the race.

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The race for District 1's seat on the Board of Supervisors will be unaffected by August's primary vote. Republican incumbent Supervisor John Montgomery will battle Democratic challenger Clint Mccain in November's general election.

District 2's Democratic incumbent Supervisor Orlando Trainer will face an opponent in Tuesday's primary. Tremmell Sherman, also a Democrat, is seeking to remove Trainer, who is the Board's current president, from his position.

Democratic incumbent Supervisor Marvell Howard of District 3 will have one less name to contend with as his two challengers both belong to the opposing party. Republicans Rudy Johnson and Dennis Daniels will contend for their party's nomination in November's general election.

In a reversed matchup from District 3, Republican incumbent Supervisor Bricklee Miller, of District 4, will be watching her two Democratic opponents battle. Leonardo “Knot Knot” Thompson will be seeking to defeat former Oktibbeha County Supervisor Daniel Jackson for the Democratic party's support in today's primary.

Democratic incumbent Supervisor Joe Williams faces opposition Tuesday from Victor Kent Collins, who previously did not specify a political party but later listed himself as a Democrat. The winner of today's primary will face Jared Pruitt, a Republican, in November's general election.

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY JUSTICE COURT JUDGE

In District 1's race for the judge's bench in Oktibbeha County Justice Court, incumbent Justice Court Judge William “Tony” Boykin, a Democrat, will look to defeat a challenger from his own party, Brian Michael Lindner.

Party challengers continue in District 2's race, where incumbent Justice Court Judge Larnzy Carpenter seeks to remain in his position. Carpenter is challenged by fellow Democrat Kennedy Neal.

District 3's race will be unaffected by August's primary. Democratic incumbent Marty C. Huag will look to defeat Republican challenger Cindy Mills in November.

TAX COLLECTOR AND CHANCERY CLERK

Republican incumbent Tax Collector Allen Morgan will battle John S. Brown in November's general election. Brown has listed himself as an independent.

Fellow Republican and fellow incumbent Sharon Livingston will seek to retain her position as Chancery Clerk while challenger Martesa Bishop-flowers, a Democrat, hopes to remove her from office in November.