Primary runoffs set in Horn Lake, Hernando; McLendon gets endorsements
April 21, 2025 – Tuesday is Primary Election Runoff Day in DeSoto County and some important races will be on the ballot.
Much of the interest will be on the Republican runoff for Horn Lake mayor, where former mayor Nat Baker challenges Alderman-at-Large Danny Klein for that party’s nomination.
Klein outpolled Baker in the April 1 primary election with Ward 4 Alderman Dave Young finishing third. However no candidate got the required 50 percent plus one vote to claim a victory on April 1. Young endorsed Klein after the primary results came out.
Current Mayor Allen Latimer is retiring when his term ends on June 30.
The mayor’s race is not the only runoff race on the ballot in Horn Lake on Tuesday, with three alderman runoffs also on the ballot.
Heather Dupree and former alderman Donnie “Chigger” White meet for the Alderman-at-Large Republican nod on Tuesday. In Ward 1, William “Bill” Adelman will run against Joseph “Joe” Zachary, while in Ward 4, it will be Dylan Smith running against Kirby Carter.
Winners will have one more step to achieve, however, because Democratic challengers await the winners of Tuesday’s runoff, along with the candidates who were able to advance on April 1. Horn Lake is the only DeSoto County city where Democrats are running against Republicans and in every race on the June 3 ballot.
In Hernando, a primary runoff race between former Alderman Jeff Hobbs and first-time candidate Lauren Leigh McLendon awaits voters Tuesday.
Hobbs was the top-getter in the April 1 primary vote with McLendon in second place to Jarrett Mashaw, who finished third. McLendon’s website states that Mashaw has now endorsed her in the runoff vote.
McLendon’s campaign over the weekend also announced endorsements from a former sheriff and a former school superintendent.
In a news release, former DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco endorsed McLendon for alderman, stating, “She will be an incredible advocate for public safety, ensure our schools are safe, fight to keep Memphis crime out of Hernando, and will work tirelessly to lower your taxes.”
McLendon also announced she was being endorsed by retired DeSoto County Schools Supt. Milton Kuykendall, who said, “She’ll work hard at the city level to ensure Hernando schools are safe, supported, and equipped to keep our students thriving.”
Unlike the runoff elections in Horn Lake, winners of Tuesday’s primary runoffs in Hernando will be elected to begin serving on July 1 because there are no Democratic challengers.
No runoffs are taking place in Southaven and Olive Branch, and with no Democratic challengers waiting, all primary winners are elected. Olive Branch officials have already said it will not hold a general election on June 3 due to that fact.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Hernando and Horn Lake municipal precinct locations, which in some cases may be different than for county, state and federal elections. Voters in line by 7 p.m. are entitled to vote.
Voters are required to show a photo I.D. at the polls and if none is presented, voters will still be allowed to cast an affidavit ballot. There is a deadline after the election to provide the proper ID to have that ballot counted.
