Guest defeats Young to cruise to another term
Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Guest handily defeated Democratic Shuwaski Young last night to cruise to another term with over 70 percent of the vote across the district.
In Madison County, Guest received 17,325 votes, or 73.5 percent, to Young’s 6,012 votes, unofficial results that may not include all affidavit and absentee ballots show.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson handidly defeated Republican challenger Brian Flowers again with nearly 58 percent of the total district votes. In Madison County, Thompson received nearly 75 percent of the total votes with 4,289 cast in his favor.
In the race for School Board District 1, Kendale McCoy defeated Jason Dean by 341 votes to win that seat. And in the race for School Board District 2, William Grissett Jr. defeated Rylon Thompson by 1,628 votes to win re-election.
There were minor issues reported in the School Board District 2 race in at least one precinct, First Presbyterian Church in Madison, where some voters claim to have not received a proper ballot.
Madison County Circuit Clerk Anita Wray said there were between two and three ballot styles at that precinct and that voters had reported receiving the wrong style ballot including a candidate. The problem was reportedly fixed that morning after poll workers were notified to check the ballot styles.
“The Election Commission runs the elections,” Wray said Wednesday. “The Circuit Clerk does not run the elections. It is the Election Commission that trains the poll workers. Any problem at the precincts is a problem for the Election Commission.”
District 2 Election Commissioner Lauren S. Payne declined to comment.
Madison County voters cast a total of 29,376 ballots Tuesday night, signaling a 39.31 percent voter turnout. Many judicial races were unopposed including:
• John Emfinger who ran unopposed for Position 2 Court of Appeals Judge and received 13,859 votes.
• James Walker who ran unopposed for Chancery District 11 Place 3 Chancery Court Judge 3 and received 24,024 votes.
• Robert Clark III who ran unopposed for Chancery District 11-1 Place 1 Chancery Court Judge 1 and received 2,047 votes.
• Brad Mills who ran unopposed for Circuit District 20 Place 1 Circuit Court Judge and received 23,678 votes.
• Steve Ratcliff who ran unopposed for Circuit District 20 Place 2 Circuit Court Judge and received 23,930 votes.
• Dewey Arthur who ran unopposed for Circuit District 20 Place 3 Circuit Court Judge and received 23,687 votes.
• Edwin Hannan who ran unopposed for County Judge, Place 1 Madison and received 23,789 votes.
• Staci O’Neal who ran unopposed for County Judge, Place 2 Madison and received 24,183 votes.
In the race for Chancery District 11-2 Place 2 Chancery Court Judge 2, incumbent Cynthia Brewer defeated Abby Robinson handily in Madison County by receiving 19,208 votes (nearly 80 percent) in Madison County. Totals for this race across other counties in the judicial district were unavailable at press time.