Tims, Elliott take runoff elections
Published 9:36 am Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- A chart shows the division of votes between candidates Tracy Tims and Joe Norwood Jr. in Meridian Ward 3's Democratic primary runoff election Tuesday.
Meridian voters made their wishes known Tuesday as they voted in two runoff elections. On the ballot were races for state House District 82 and to select the Democratic nominee for Meridian’s Ward 3.
In the Ward 3 race, Tracy Tims was voted to be the Democratic nominee heading into the June 3 general election. Voters chose Tims by more than 2-to-1, giving him 332, or 67.2% of votes cast against incumbent Councilman Joe Norwood Jr.’s 160 votes, or 32.38%.

A chart shows the division of votes between Gregory Elliott and Joe Norwood Sr. in Tuesday’s runoff election for state House District 82.
In a message posted to social media, Tims thanked his supporters for their efforts and encouraged them to continue the fight as the general election nears.
“Thank you Meridian Ward 3! Another leg won, but the race is not over! We have one more hurdle to jump on June 3! I’m grateful,” he said in the post.
Tims will face Republican candidate Beverly Henson in the general election. Henson ran unopposed in the Republican primary. No Independent candidates qualified for the race.
As Norwood Jr. defended his seat on Tuesday, Norwood Sr. was asking voters to send him to Jackson as he ran in a runoff election against Gregory Elliott to represent state House District 82. Norwood Sr. is a longtime Lauderdale County supervisor, while Elliott serves on the Meridian Civil Service Commission.
Elliott, who had a comfortable lead in the primary, saw similar results Tuesday winning the election with 805 votes, or 65.39%. Norwood received 424 votes, or 34.44%.
Exact totals may change as absentee ballots received up to five days after the election can be counted as long as they were postmarked on or before Election Day.
With the two runoff elections decided, municipal candidates will now turn their efforts toward the June 3 general election, which will include races for Meridian mayor and its five City Council seats, as well as Marion mayor and five Board of Aldermen seats.
Meridian’s mayoral race includes former Mayor Percy Bland, who secured the Democratic nomination earlier this month, local businessman Jimmy Copeland, who is running as an Independent, and the Republican nominee Stephen Derik Boler.
Following Tuesday’s runoff, Meridian residents are guaranteed at least three new City Council members and one member returning for a second term.
In Ward 1, Republican Elliot Brewer beat out Elton Reed in the primary election to be the party’s nominee. He will face off against Democratic nominee Tyrone Johnson in the general election. The winner will replace retiring Councilman George Thomas, who has been on the council since 1985.
Ward 2 Councilman Dwayne Davis breezed through the primary election with no challenger on the Democratic ballot. He will, however, face Kyle L. Waller, who is running as an Independent, in June.
Councilwoman Romande Walker secured her second term representing Ward 4 on the City Council earlier this month when she beat former Councilwoman Kim Houston in the Democratic primary. With no Republican or Independent challengers, Walker is unopposed in the general election.
Ward 5 voters will choose between Democratic candidate Brandon Rue, Republican Dustin Hill and Independent Ricky Spells to be their next representative on the City Council in June. The winner will replace Councilwoman Ty Bell Lindsey, who ran for mayor and was ultimately defeated by Bland.
Marion elections are slightly different with all candidates running as nonpartisan. On the ballot, Mayor Larry Gill is running for a second term in office, and several current aldermen are seeking reelection as well. Unlike Meridian, which elects council members by wards, Marion aldermen run at-large, meaning the entire town votes for each of the five aldermen seats.
Candidates for alderman include:
— Stacy McInnis Blalock
— Lou Ann Baylor
— Norman Coleman
— Shanta Michelle Hegemony
— Koredé S. Stennis
— Rita Rawson
— Tammy Young