Municipal primary ballot begins to fill out
DeSoto County News this week reached out to City Clerks of the four DeSoto County cities asking for a list of candidates on the April 1 primary ballot for Mayor and Aldermen.
By Tuesday, Jan. 14, we heard from all four cities and have received an early idea of the candidates who plan to be on the ballot for the April 1 primary election.
In Southaven, there are two primary races shaping up at this time. One is in Ward 1 newcomers Judy Jenkins-Lewis and Timothy Putt are running for the Republican nod. Kristian Kelly is the current alderman for Ward 1 and he has not filed for reelection. Kelly has confirmed in an email to DeSoto County News he would not be running for reelection.
The other contest shaping up in Southaven is in Ward 4 where incumbent Joel Gallagher is facing a primary challenge from Lisa Marie Booth.
The other slots on the Republican side of the Southaven ballot are all incumbents and all are currently without opposition. No Democrats have indicated being on the ballot.
There are two primary challenges shaping up on the Republican side of the Olive Branch ballot. One is in Ward 2 where incumbent Alderwoman Pat Hamilton is challenged by Randy Cowgill. The other is in Ward 3 where Don Gammage and Dion Jones would be on the ballot. Current Alderwomen Joy Henderson is not among the candidates listed.
The other Republicans on the Olive Branch ballot are incumbents running for reelection and Democrats are listed. There are also four Executive Committee names on the Republican ballot in Olive Branch. They are Mike Duncan, Kimberly Remak, Steve Stratton and Leon Turner.
Republicans and one independent are on the primary ballot in Hernando and there are two contested races shaping up. One is for Alderman at-Large, where Jeff Hobbs and Lauren McLendon are to be on the ballot. State Rep. W.I. “Doc” Harris is the current Alderman at-Large. The other contest is in Ward 5 where current Alderwoman Beth Rone Ross faces a challenge from Kristoffer “Kit” Kitchens on the Republican side.
Current Ward 2 Alderman Andrew Miller is running as an independent without opposition and the remaining aldermen on the Hernando board and Mayor Chip Johnson are running on the Republican primary ballot unopposed.
The most active primary ballot on April 1 will be in Horn Lake. It begins at the top, where Mayor Allen Latimer is retiring. Current aldermen Danny Klein and Dave Young have both filed for the Republican primary and Jimmy Stokes is the lone Democrat.
A three-person race is shaping up on the Republican side for Klein’s Alderman at-Large seat, as Heather DuPree, Donnie “Chigger” White and Joseph Piercy have signed. Larry McKinney is the only Democrat running for that seat and will face the Republican primary winner in the June general vote.
In Ward 2, current Alderman Tommy Bledsoe is being challenged by Grant Harlow in the Republican primary. Democrat Yolanda Kay Hassell-Rook awaits the Republican winner in the general election.
Jacob Hisaw is the lone Republican in Ward 5 with current Alderwoman LaShonda Johnson having qualified as a Democrat. And in Ward 6, Democrats Charlotte Armstrong and Sandra Phipps are on the primary ballot with the winner to challenge current Republican Alderman Robby DuPree in the general election.
There were currently no Republican or Democratic candidates listed for alderman in Horn Lake Wards 3 and 4, as of Monday, Jan. 13. Jackie Bostick is the current Ward 3 Alderman and mayoral candidate Dave Young sits in as Ward 4 Alderman.
Ward 1 candidates in Horn Lake are both newcomers, Republican Joshua Langston and Democrat William “Bill” Anderson.
The last day to qualify for the April 1 Republican and Democratic primary vote is Jan. 31. Runoff elections, if needed, will be held on April 22 ahead of the general election day on June 3. There are no runoff votes after June 3, as the person elected in the general election does not need the 50-percent plus one vote majority, just a simple majority.
The 2025 election calendar is found on the Secretary of State website.
