Mississippi GOP primary down to the wire — and possibly headed toward a runoff
Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images
The hotly contested Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Mississippi now appears headed for yet another round — but quite possibly with some strong momentum for Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel, against the longtime incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran.
With 98 percent of precincts reporting, McDaniel has 49.6 percent of the vote, against Cochran's 48.8 percent — and a little-known third candidate, Thomas Carey, has the remaining 1.6 percent. Under Mississippi law, if neither candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote in the primary, McDaniel and Cochran will head to a runoff election, which would be held just three weeks from now on June 24.
The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee, former Congressman Travis Childers, who easily won his own primary. And though Mississippi is a solidly Republican state, there has been some speculation about whether the very fiery and controversial McDaniel might create an opening for Democrats.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a display of continued energy for his campaign, McDaniel delivered a rip-roaring stump speech tonight to his supporters, in which he declared, among others things about Washington politicians: "For too long we let them have their way with us. Tonight in Mississippi, they heard us."
By contrast, Cochran did not deliver any statement at all to his own supporters.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Harriet Tubman made a general 161 years after raid
Speed Read She was the first woman to oversee an American military action during a time of war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chappell Roan is a new kind of boundary-setting celebrity
In the Spotlight She's calling out fans and the media for invasive behavior
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump fills key slots, tapping Congress, MAGA loyalists
Speed Read The president-elect continues to fill his administration with new foreign policy, environment and immigration roles assigned
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published