FREE CONTENT — Voter turnout high for midterm elections

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

In somewhat of a pleasant surprise, voters turned out heavily to cast 
ballots in Tuesday's midterm elections.

A total of 7,029 of the 12,768 registered voters in Wayne County cast a 
ballot either in person on Tuesday or by absentee ballot. In addition, 
99 affidavit ballots were cast on Election Day.

That means 55.05 percent of voters cast a ballot in a midterm election 
that often doesn't see high voter turnout. It was much higher than the 
turnout for the last election in the county.

Only two precincts had less than 50 percent turnout while the 
Chaparral/Diamond precinct had the highest voter turnout with 64.62 
percent of voters casting a ballot.

The most interesting local race was the one for the newly formed Circuit 
District 18 Place 1 Judge's race. That contest pitted Brad R. Thompson 
against Eric Tiebaurer.

With all but affidavit ballots and absentee ballots still to arrive by 
mail with a postmark of Nov. 3 having been counted, Thompson held a slim 
lead in Wayne County. Thompson had 3,355 votes (50.85 percent) to 3,206 
votes (48.59 percent) at the local level.

The new Circuit District encompasses Wayne, Jones, Greene and George 
County and those totals do not include totals from those counties.

In the race for Beat 5 School Board, Robert Dean ran unopposed. He 
brought in 1,089 votes of the 1,142 cast. The former Superintendent of 
Education and School Board member will take office in January.

In federal elections, Cindy Hyde-Smith carried Wayne County in a close 
race against Scott Colom. Hyde-Smith, the incumbent, took in 3,754 votes 
(53.56 percent) to 3,075 votes (43.87 percent) for Colom. Ty Pickens 
earned 179 votes (2.55 percent).

Again, results from other counties in the state are not included in 
these totals.

In the race for the 4th District House of Representative seat, incumbent 
Mike Ezell carried Wayne County.

Ezell brought in 4,038 votes (57.7 percent) while challenger Jeffrey 
Hulum III had 2,835 votes (2,835 votes (40.52 percent). Carl Boyanton 
earned 122 votes (1.74 percent).

These results are for Wayne County only and do not include results from 
other areas of the District.

The first box that came into the county courthouse was the Winchester 
box, which arrived at 7:24 p.m. The final box to arrive was 
Buckatunna's, which arrived at 8:50 p.m.

Affidavit ballots will be reviewed and counted if eligible later this 
week. Mail-in absentee ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 3 will also 
be counted, with those ballots being received for a five-day period.

The following are unofficial results from the election in Wayne County:

United States Senate

Cindy Hyde-Smith 3,754

Scott Colum 3,075

Ty Pinkins 179

4th Congressional District, U.S. House of Representatives

Mike Ezell 4,038

Jeffrey Hulum III 2,835

Carl Boyanton 122

Appeals District 5, Position 1, Court of Appeals Judge

Anthony "Tony" Lawrence 4,929

Chancery District 19, Place 1, Chancery Court Judge

Jerry D. Sharp 5,971

Chancery District 19, Place 2, Chancery Court Judge

Kathryn Dickerson Clay 6,043

Circuit District 18, Place 1,

Circuit Court Judge

Brad R. Thompson 3,355

Eric Tiebauer 3,206

Circuit District 18, Place 2,

Circuit Court Judge

Darryl A. Hunt, Jr., 5,946

School Board, Beat 5

Robert Dean 1,089

These totals reflect in-person and absentee mail-in absentee ballots for 
all 22 of the precincts in Wayne County.

The next election cycle will come in 2027 when candidates for many local 
races — including Sheriff and all five Supervisor positions — will 
be on the ballot.

Qualifying for those races begins in January and runs through Feb. 1, 
2027.

Democratic and Republican primaries will be conducted in early August, 
with runoffs if needed to be conducted later in that month.

Winners from the primary races will advance to the November General 
Election, with winners from those elections taking office in January, 
2028 and being sworn into office in December, 2027.