Incumbent District 3 Supervisor Larry Cole retained his seat, and Anthony "Tony" Hawkins became the first Black candidate ever to win election to the position of coroner in Tallahatchie County, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's general election.
Democrat Cole, 76, topped Republican hopeful Justin Booth, 35, to win election to a fourth term on the Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors. Cole carried all five precinct boxes in receiving 547 votes (64%) to Booth's 299 (35%). There were five write-in votes.
Hawkins, 54, a Glendora funeral director, topped independent candidate Angela "Angie" Peters Davis, 59, to win the coroner's seat. Hawkins, who was the top vote-getter at 11 of 21 precincts, tallied 2,307 votes (59%) to Davis' 1,622 (41%). Davis has served as deputy coroner under current coroner Ginger Meriwether, whom Hawkins defeated in a Democratic primary runoff election in August.
After The Sun-Sentinel texted him for comment late Tuesday, Hawkins texted back that he appreciates "the opportunity to serve" Tallahatchie County, indicating that he will make a more formal statement later.
Tallahatchie County voters gave a majority of the vote to all Democratic candidates for state office, although Republicans made a clean sweep in statewide balloting.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley of Nettleton, who is married to Charleston native Katelyn Mabus Presley, fell short in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. With 98% of precincts reporting statewide at 11:44 p.m. Tuesday, Reeves held a 5 percentage point margin over Presley and led him by nearly 40,000 votes.
Presley conceded the race at about 10:45 p.m., shortly after calling to congratulate Reeves.
In a post on the Brandon Presley for Governor Facebook page shortly after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Presley wrote, "Mississippi is a wonderful state that welcomed me and Katelyn into all 82 counties over this campaign. While tonight’s result wasn’t what we wanted, I’m more confident than ever in our people. May God bless Gov. Reeves in his victory and this great state."
In the race for state Senate District 24, incumbent Democrat David Jordan easily won reelection, according to an Associated Press report that indicated Jordan received 54% of the vote districtwide. Republican Marty Evans Jr. got 35% while independent candidate Curressia M. Brown received 11% throughout District 24. In Tallahatchie County, Jordan tallied 1,551 votes (50%), Evans 1,435 (46%) and Brown 135 (4%).
