Michel race started late after Dem got re-do

State Sen. Walter Michel feels good about his re-election chances, despite starting his campaign three months later than he usually would have.

Michel only discovered he had an opponent in June, more than three months past the filing deadline because of a registration error by his Democratic opponent Earl Scales. See a full composite Sample Ballot here.

Scales, who lives off of Mississippi 463, had filed to run in Senate District 22, which is immediately north of District 25, in which his neighborhood lies.

Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Moak requested the Secretary of State to place Scales in his proper district. In his letter, Moak said the recent court challenge to the lines defining District 22 had confused the process.

That request was granted, then approved by the State Election Commission.

"When I found out, it immediately changed my plans for the summer," Michel said. "I transitioned from summer vacation mode to campaign mode pretty quickly, but I'm blessed to have support from some of the same people that supported me (in 2016)."

Michel said he plans to address the late-registration issue, if re-elected, during the next legislative session.

"Many of my fellow senators are worried the same thing could happen to them," he said. "We're going to study this issue and try to come up with a fair solution."

Scales, an assistant district attorney to current Attorney General Jim Hood, could not be reached for comment.

Michel said he was relieved that the race has been clean, devoid of negative advertising on either side. In fact, he said he and his opponent have never met. There was one candidate forum at St. Catherine's Village in Madison, but Scales did not attend.

The District 22 election, from which Scales was removed, will also be decided Tuesday. Republican Hayes Dent and Democrat Joseph C. Thomas, Sr. are the only names on the ballot in that race.



There are also three state House races that Madison Countians will help decide.

The first, for District 56, pits incumbent House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Republican, against Democrat Vicki Slater.

The second, District 73, pits Republican Jill Ford against Democrat Gayle Walsh Massey.

The third, District 64, is down to Republican Bill Denny and Democrat Shanda Yates.

The legislative races are far from the only Tuesday election that will effect Madison Countians.

The biggest prize on the ballot Tuesday will be the Governor's Mansion.

The latest Mason-Dixon Poll released a week ago shows Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves leading Attorney General Jim Hood, a Democrat, by a 46-43 margin with nine percent of respondents saying they were still undecided.

Reeves has run on a platform of using strategic investments and grants to bring Mississippi's workforce into the 21st century.

The former banker and Florence native has the endorsement of practically every statewide elected Republican, but not his primary opponent Bill Waller Jr., who Reeves defeated by a 54-46 margin in August.

Madison County voters favored Waller by more than a 2-1 margin in August, with the former State Supreme Court Justice receiving 12,401 votes to Reeves' 5,905.

Hood, who is originally from Chickasaw County, emerged from a crowded field to win the Democratic primary with 68.8 percent of the vote.

He has called for Medicaid expansion, tuition-free community college and universal pre-school.

The other two candidates are Constitution Party candidate Bob Hickingbottom and independent David Singletary.

Several down-ballot races will also play out Tuesday.

In the race for Lieutenant Governor, Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann faces State Rep. Jay Hughes (D - Oxford).

In the Secretary of State's race, State Rep. Michael Watson (R - Pascagoula) faces former Democratic Mayor of Hattiesburg Johnny Dupree.

In the Attorney General's race, Democrat attorney Jennifer Riley Collins will face Republican State Treasurer Lynn Fitch of Ridgeland.

Republican David McRae of Ridgeland will take on Democrat Addie Lee Green in the race to become Mississippi's next State Treasurer.

Other seats that could be up for grabs include:

• Transportation Commission (Northern District): Joe Grist (D), John Caldwell (R).

• Transportation Commission (Central District): Willie Simmons (D), Butch Lee (R).

• Public Service Commission (Southern District): Connie Moran (D), Dane Maxwell (R).

• Public Service Commission (Central District): De'Keither Stamps (D), Brent Bailey (R).

• Commissioner of Insurance: Mike Chaney (R), Robert Amos (D).

• Commissioner of Agriculture: Andy Gipson (R), Rickey Cole (D).