In Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District, two Republicans, Ron Eller and Andrew Scott Smith, are competing in a primary runoff election to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Bennie Thompson. Eller, a military veteran and physician assistant, and Smith, who has a background in commercial real estate and pumpkin farming, were the top vote-getters in the previous primary but neither received the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Eller ran for the seat in 2022 and lost the primary runoff to Thompson. Both candidates have different policy platforms, with Eller focusing on education, economics, and energy, while Smith’s platform includes restoring economic dominance and legalizing marijuana.
Thompson, the Democratic incumbent, was unopposed in the primary and has held the seat since 1993. The district covers a large area along the Mississippi River, bordering Arkansas and Louisiana, and includes most of the state capital, Jackson. The district supported Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The boundaries of the district were adopted in 2022.
The Republican primary runoff election in Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District is set to take place on Tuesday. Polls will close at 8 p.m. ET, and the Associated Press will provide coverage of the election. Only voters who participated in the Republican primary on March 12 or registered voters in District 2 who did not participate in any party’s primary for this seat are eligible to vote in the runoff. Eller narrowly missed clinching the nomination in the primary, and Smith will need to gain ground in certain counties to overtake him in the runoff.
Turnout for runoff elections is typically lower than primary elections, and the number of votes cast in the previous primary was around 36,000. Pre-Election Day voting in the Republican primary runoff was minimal as of March 26, with only 19 ballots cast. The AP does not make projections and will only declare a winner if it is determined that no trailing candidates can close the gap. The timeline for vote-counting can vary, but in the previous primary, results were reported shortly after polls closed.
With the general election just 217 days away, the outcome of the Republican primary runoff in Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District will set the stage for the November election. Both candidates are vying for the chance to challenge the long-standing Democratic incumbent in a district that has historically leaned towards the Democratic party. The results of the runoff will provide insight into the preferences of voters in the district and set the tone for the upcoming general election.
